Texas Basketball: Will Poor Free-Throw Shooting Hurt Longhorns When It Matters?

So far this season, the Texas Longhorns have established themselves as a team to be reckoned with as conference seasons enter their stride in the push toward the post-season.

Texas' combination of defensive tenacity, a strong inside game, and timely scoring from Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and Corey Joseph have helped the Longhorns earn an undefeated start in Big 12 conference play and big wins over the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers over the past few weeks.

Entering the unfriendly confines of Reed Arena this evening to battle with the Texas A&M Aggies, Texas is currently ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press poll.  Texas has consistently struggled in College Station over Rick Barnes' tenure and could be in for their first loss of the conference season this evening if one of their most glaring weaknesses rears its ugly head: free throw shooting.

Under Rick Barnes' leadership, the Longhorns have seen improvements in most major segments of the game. They are defending with passion, often creating their best offensive opportunities off of turnovers or quick shots from opponents.

Shot selection has drastically improved, especially from the team's two most unpredictable scorers, Jordan Hamilton and J'Covan Brown.

Free throw shooting, however, is still a thorn in the side of a rapidly improving team. For some reason, Texas players just do not look comfortable at the line and seem resigned to the fact that free throws are more of a hindrance than another way to gain an advantage.

For the second consecutive season, Texas is one of the poorest free-throw shooting teams in the country, entering tonight's game shooting a paltry 65 percent from the line, good for a ranking of 282nd out of the NCAA's 346 Division I programs.

It's hard to attribute any one diagnosis to the team's free-throw shooting:

Is it lack of practice? Lack of concentration? Lack of emphasis on its importance?

Whatever the reason, it is the Longhorns' most glaring weakness that must be addressed sooner than later.

While it may not now, when March Madness rolls around, and the 20 point wins become fewer and farther between, free throw shooting will matter for Texas.

It would be unfortunate for Texas fans to see their team lose a game it should win due to a skill that is often over looked in the game of basketball.