Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers Getting to the Free-Throw Line in Recent Streak

The Wisconsin basketball team is getting it done from the charity stripe

In the Wisconsin Badgers’ 82-79 overtime home win over Indiana on Tuesday night, the Badgers made 28 of 37 free throws, and Nigel Hayes made 17 of 22 foul shots, including 11 straight in the final 4 minutes, 43 seconds and overtime. Getting to the free-throw line more often has been huge in Wisconsin’s recent streak.

Wisconsin found itself on the losing end of three consecutive games after a 70-65 road defeat to Northwestern on Jan. 12 to put the team at 1-4 in the Big Ten and 9-9 overall, which was the latest the Badgers have been at .500 since the 1997-98 season – the last time they were left out of the NCAA tournament.

Since then, Wisconsin basketball has reversed the course and won three in a row. The biggest change with the recent turnaround: free throws. The Badgers have gotten to the line more often in their last three games than they have in any previous game this season. With wins over Michigan State, Penn State and Indiana, Wisconsin has attempted 36, 35 and 37 free throws, respectively.

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The reason for the increased free-throw shooting has been the way the Badgers have attacked the basket. When Wisconsin plays around the perimeter shooting deep jumpers, it is doing the opposing defense a favor. Instead, playing more aggressively and getting in the lane has increased opponent fouls. Wisconsin has drawn 28, 29 and 31 fouls in its last three games, which puts the Badgers into the bonus early.

Hayes does the most damage at the line. He ranks eighth nationally in free-throw attempts (170) and 14th in free-throw makes (126). Hayes is No. 1 in both categories among Big Ten players. Without a developed jump shot, Ethan Happ does all of his scoring in the paint, which racks up a lot of fouls as well. The more aggressive Happ is in the post, the more free throws Wisconsin will attempt. The Badgers’ offense is at their best when Happ is assertive because as we have seen, he has the moves to score against future NBA talent.

Making more free throws than opponents attempt became a staple of Wisconsin basketball under Bo Ryan. With Ryan as the head coach, the Badgers made more free throws than their opponents attempted in half of his 14 full seasons with Wisconsin. It would take a lot for the Badgers to accomplish this in the 2015-16 season under interim head coach Greg Gard, but with the way the last three games have gone, it is possible. Wisconsin has made 335 foul shots, while opponents have attempted 387.

When Wisconsin has attempted more free throws than its opponent, the Badgers have a 10-3 record. When Wisconsin has gotten to the foul line less, the Badgers are 2-6. Given the fact that Wisconsin has lost seven games by six points or less, free throws could have made the difference like it did in the five games the Badgers have won by six points or less.