Buckeyes up and good with free throws

It’s a question that coach Chris Holtmann has come to expect whenever addressing segments of the Ohio State fan base. Not only that, but the type of person who will ask it is often spotted well in advance, too.

“You can usually spot ’em as you walk into (events) and say, ‘I’ll bet he’s going to ask or she’s going to ask about free-throw shooting,’ ” Holtmann said on Wednesday, “because they grew up in their backyard and nobody was guarding them: ‘I can do it. Why can’t they do it if I can do it?’ ”

It’s a topic that was broached on at least two speaking occasions to ticket-holders after Holtmann landed the Ohio State job.

Now, as the Buckeyes get back into Big Ten play Thursday night at Iowa, they will do so as the most improved freethrow shooting team in the Big Ten. After hitting on 68.2 percent of their attempts last season, fourth-worst in the conference, the Buckeyes are up to 73.3 percent this year and have climbed to No. 5 in the Big Ten. The increases in both percentage and conference rank are the biggest in the league.

So what’s the secret? There really isn’t one, other than players who shoot a high percentage from the line are getting there the most.

“I think any coaching staff emphasizes freethrow shooting to some extent because it comes down to close games, making free throws, but it’s an individual thing,” said junior Keita BatesDiop, who is shooting 81.5 percent from the line. “You have to have confidence in yourself to knock those free throws down.”

Ohio State’s most prolific free-throw shooter is freshman center Kaleb Wesson. He has taken 81 this year and made them at a 75.3 percent clip, which is only sixth-best among regulars on the roster.

One year ago, Wesson would’ve been secondbest for the Buckeyes.

“It definitely helps because I know when we scout teams, a lot of bigs can’t shoot free throws and we foul them a little bit harder and make them earn it,” BatesDiop said.

Halfway through the season, Ohio State’s percentage is well ahead of the best mark in the past 16 years. Since the 200304 season, the best free-throw-shooting

season came in 2005-06, when the Buckeyes shot 71.8 percent. This year, three of their usual starters are shooting better than 80 percent.