Syracuse’s Free-Throw Fix: Progress, Pressure, and the Push for Consistency
Syracuse is working hard to make free throws feel like second nature - and it all starts at the end of practice. Picture this: every Orange player steps to the line, one by one, surrounded by teammates, needing to hit two in a row.
Miss? Everyone runs.
It’s a pressure-packed drill designed to simulate game moments, and according to point guard Naithan George, it’s all about building confidence when it counts.
That confidence showed up early in Syracuse’s 91-83 win over Northeastern. The Orange came out firing from the line, starting a perfect 10-for-10 and going 13-for-14 in the first half.
It looked like they’d finally turned the corner on a season-long issue. But then came the second half - and the ghosts of missed opportunities returned.
Syracuse went just 21-for-34 after the break, and what should’ve been a comfortable win nearly slipped away.
The 48 free-throw attempts were the most Syracuse has taken in a game this season, outpacing their previous high by 15. That kind of volume shows how aggressive they were, but also how much they left on the table. Head coach Adrian Autry acknowledged the improvement - “We’ve made a huge jump” - but he also knows they’re not where they need to be just yet.
The last time Syracuse started that hot from the line? Back in 2024, when they went 12-for-12 against Virginia Tech.
And the last time they had that many second-half attempts? You have to rewind all the way to the 2013 NCAA Tournament, when they shot 36 free throws in the final 20 minutes against Cal on their way to the Final Four.
That team knew how to close.
This one? Still figuring it out.
Free-throw struggles have already cost Syracuse some big moments this season - most notably in an overtime loss to then-No. 3 Houston, where they went just 12-for-29.
It’s been a recurring issue: 14 misses against Monmouth, 10 against Kansas, and 13 more in a nail-biter with Saint Joseph’s. Those aren’t just missed points - they’re missed chances to win.
Autry has been vocal about the team’s scoring potential, even saying they’d be averaging close to 80 points per game if not for the free-throw woes. After a solid 15-for-20 showing against Mercyhurst, he pointed to the charity stripe as the main thing holding the offense back.
And to their credit, the Orange are putting in the work.
Forward Tyler Betsey, who went 5-for-6 against Northeastern, credits the improvement to a shift in routine - more time, more reps, and a lot more focus. With classes out of the way, the team has been shooting after every lift.
Autry even made it mandatory: 150 free throws after each session. For Betsey, it’s about volume and rhythm.
He used to end workouts with 10 makes in a row. Now?
He doesn’t stop until he hits 50.
J.J. Starling echoed that sentiment, saying the new regimen is paying off.
And it’s not just about mechanics - it’s mental. Center William Kyle III, who went 6-for-12 against Northeastern, said the team runs “live sessions” in practice where fouls are called and players immediately shoot their free throws.
It’s as close to game pressure as you can get in a gym.
“Whenever we think about putting in work, we shoot free throws now,” Kyle said. “So I see it translating immediately.”
Kyle’s still a work in progress. He’s got an awkward hitch in his stroke and has struggled with consistency, especially in pressure moments.
He went 4-for-10 in a game against Tennessee, but hit some clutch ones late to help seal a win over a top-15 opponent. Against Northeastern, he missed four straight in the second half as the Huskies closed the gap to six with under three minutes left.
Autry responded by subbing Kyle out on offense in favor of Kiyan Anthony. It was a situational move - offense-defense swaps - but it also reflected the trust (or lack thereof) at the line in crunch time.
Still, Kyle isn’t rattled. He’s been working closely with assistant coach Dan Engelstad, leaning on repetition and routine to build confidence.
“I feel like nothing’s really changed,” he said. “I feel like we just kind of started to knock down free throws.”
That may sound simple, but it’s not wrong. The Orange closed the game out at the line - and that’s a big deal.
George hit four straight to stretch the lead to seven. Betsey added four more in the final minute.
Anthony, despite earlier misses, sank two of his own. When it mattered most, they delivered.
George, in particular, has taken a leap. Earlier this season, he’d only shot 17 free throws through 10 games - a shockingly low number for a starting point guard.
But over the last two games, he’s attacked the rim more aggressively, drawing contact and converting 17 of 19 from the stripe. His approach?
Stay in attack mode, breathe, clear the mind, and let it fly.
Syracuse’s first-half performance showed what this team can be when they’re locked in at the line. The second half reminded us they’re not there yet.
But the work is happening. The confidence is building.
And the return of Donnie Freeman could be a game-changer. He was 28-for-36 from the line in just four games before injury, including a 12-for-14 performance against Monmouth.
Getting him back gives the Orange another reliable option in high-leverage moments.
There’s still plenty of room for growth, but if Syracuse can start stringing together full games - not just halves - of solid free-throw shooting, they’ll give themselves a real shot in the ACC. Because in close games, it’s not just about who gets to the line. It’s about who can finish the job once they’re there.