There they go again.No, this is not a reprise of a Ronald Reagan one-liner, but rather a commentary on free throw shooting at Clemson.

Last season, through 19 games Oliver Purnell’s Tigers were among the ACC’s surprise teams, their success limited by free throw shooting that flirted with the most execrable in league history. To their credit, Clemson players rallied over the final 13 games of the 2006 season to elevate their foul shooting accuracy to merely miserable. After opening with a 58.1 percent conversion rate through January 27, 2006, the Tigers made two-thirds of their free throws the remainder of the season and finished with .617 accuracy, tied for seventh-worst in ACC history.

This season Clemson has maintained its habit of self-inflicted wounds at the line. There was a 64-63 home defeat against Virginia in which the Tigers made 9 of 16 free throws, and a five-point loss at Maryland — ending a 17-game winning streak to open the season – in which they made 5 of 13 foul shots.Even worse, the Tigers have not rallied at the so-called charity stripe as the ‘07 season wears on. Witness their 9 of 18 free throw shooting in a 71-66 home loss to Duke on Feb. 22. The Tigers are hitting 60.2 percent of their foul shots overall, third-worst in conference history, and have attempted 53 fewer free throws this season than any other ACC team. That in part reflects squandered one-and-one opportunities.

Clemson has hit 60.7 percent of its free throws (1132-1864) in 91 games over the past three seasons, perhaps the single biggest restraint on its success. The ‘05 squad was the second-worst in ACC history from the line.

Oddly, Clemson teams are responsible for eight of the 10 worst free throw shooting efforts in conference history, dating back to 1954, when they played in Fike Fieldhouse.

Even factoring in Clemson’s inaccuracy, ACC teams have combined to hit 69.6 percent of their free throws in 2007.

Miami and Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2005 and have improved their free throw accuracy in each of their three league seasons. BC joined in 2006.

You are logged in as Julio | account info | logout DBR Headlines « ACC Roundup | Glenn On The Dominance Of The Big Four » Barry Jacobs On Duke & Talent by DBR, February 20th, 2007 | Main | The topic was promoted on ESPN’s telecast of the Duke-Boston College game, examined on air and in newspapers, chewed over in press rooms and fan conversations: What’s wrong with Duke? Not surprisingly, there were as many explanations as observers. Too many turnovers. Too many freshmen. Weak defense. No superstar. No clear floor leader. Over-reliance on 3-point shooting. Erratic 3-point shooting. Lack of strong post play. A coach past his prime.Duke’s convincing win at BC, ending a four-game losing streak, and the subsequent win over Georgia Tech, will quell the criticism, at least somewhat. We do think a chronic failure to develop dependable depth has been a factor is several late fades this season; at least one opposing coach confided his team’s strategy rested in large part on wearing Duke down in the late going. The Blue Devils need more of a post presence, and not only in the person of Josh McRoberts. The offense sputters awaiting the maturation of Greg Paulus, who is neither the best passer nor the best playmaker on the squad, and a measure of consistency from Gerald Henderson and/or Lance Thomas. A clear leader would help, as would continued, controlled offensive assertiveness from McRoberts, Paulus, DeMarcus Nelson and Dave McClure. Many other explanations for the relative weaknesses of the 20-7 squad are dubious, sometimes to a striking extent. As chronicled here earlier, this is a superior defensive unit holding opponents to 59.1 points per game. So, when someone says otherwise, consider the shallowness of their analysis accordingly. Freshmen abound throughout the ACC and all of college basketball; Duke’s youth is not all that remarkable at this late stage of the season. Vaunted freshmen at UNC and Georgia Tech are struggling to greater and lesser degrees as well. Duke is fourth in the ACC in rebound margin (+5.4) and third in 3-point accuracy (37.8 percent). Where the shooting does fall off is at the foul line, where the Devils are hitting 68.8 percent, lowest in five seasons, a crucial difference in close losses to Virginia Tech (18 of 28) and North Carolina (12 of 19). The team was a combined 10 of 23 at the line in road games at Maryland and Boston College. And, while it is true that Mike Krzyzewski has struggled recently to get the extra ounce from the ‘07 squad that spells the difference between close and victorious, and his unwillingness to develop depth has hurt Duke periodically since his guards wore out in the 1986 NCAA title game against Louisville, to question whether he remains one of the best in the business is breathtakingly short-sighted. Recall that earlier this season, and last season, and the season before that, observers marveled at the ability of thin Duke squads to win with relentless efficiency, griping that they were rated higher than they deserved. Who put those teams together? There remains time for further emergence, both individually and collectively, prior to tournament play. Unfortunately for those making late improvement, voting rules for all-conference honors require ballots be cast the night of the last regular season game, meaning many will be submitted days in advance. Therefore, even if McRoberts, the league’s second-best rebounder, continues to rack up double-doubles, don’t be surprised if Duke fails to place anyone on the first team All-ACC squad for the first time since 1996. That would be just the sixth time under Krzyzewski, and only the 14th time in the 54 years of conference competition, that Duke was shut out. If past results are any guide, at least one Blue Devil, probably McRoberts, will make second team. Only in 1974 did the program fail entirely to have a player voted among the top 10 performers in the ACC. Right now, our frontrunners for first team All-ACC are Boston College’s Jared Dudley, Florida State’s Al Thornton, North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, Virginia’s Sean Singletary and Virginia Tech’s Zabian Dowdell. DESERVING DUKIES Blue Devils Named First Team All-ACC 3 (1) 2002 (Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer)* 2 (14) 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1986, 1979, 1978, 1966, 1965, 1963, 1962 1 (25) 2004, 2003, 1997, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1976,1973, 1971, 1968, 1967, 1964, 1961, 1959, 1958, 1956, 1955, 1954 0 (13) 1996, 1995, 1990, 1987, 1983, 1977, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1970, 1969, 1960, 1957 * Listed in descending order of votes received. All charts by Barry Jacobs are the property of Barry Jacobs. The charts cannot be reproduced or disseminated without express written permission of Barry Jacobs.