Sections

Michigan's free-throw shooting now an asset

During MoonJam '95, the Michigan men's basketball team's version of Midnight Madness, Detroit television sports reporter Van Earl Wright challenged Michigan coach Steve Fisher to a free throw shooting contest.

Fisher embarrassed Van Earl, hitting every one of his shots. This impressive display left a question in the minds of most Wolverine fans: How come the coach is so good from the foul line while his team is so bad from the charity stripe?

For most of the past five years, foul shooting has been one of Michigan's greatest weaknesses. Games that should have been blowouts became interesting contests because of the Wolverines' ineptitude from the line.

That has changed this season.

Not since 1989, when Rumeal Robinson hit two rather important free throws in Seattle, has a Michigan squad relied so much on its ability to hit from the foul line.

"Something that was a huge liability has become an asset for us," Fisher said. "We've got confident free throw shooters."

Saturday against Minnesota, foul shooting was the key to the Wolverines' much-needed victory. Fisher's squad canned 23 foul shots on 27 attempts (85 percent). Considering that Michigan scored only 65 points, it is easy to see the importance of those 23 shots.

Albert White, who has emerged as one of the Wolverines' top players since being moved to power forward, led the charge, hitting 11 of 12 from the stripe. It was obviously the best free throw shooting effort of his young career.

"I haven't shot that many free throws in a while -- since high school," White said. "We've been shooting a lot better as a team. Now, when I step to the line, I clear my mind."

Senior Dugan Fife, who is shooting over 86 percent, and freshman Louis Bullock, who is just under 90 percent and has missed a mere five free throws all season, have been the catalysts in Michigan's emergence from the free throw line. Both are ranked among the top foul shooters in the nation.

Since beating Illinois at home Jan. 9, the Wolverines have been deadly from the line. That night Michigan shot an impressive 75 percent, hitting 21 free throws. But that was only a sign of things to come.

The next two games, against Michigan State and Penn State, produced two of the Wolverines' finest performances from the line in team history.

In those contests, Michigan combined to hit 26 of 28 times, missing only once against each opponent.

"When we see someone being consistent, it just carries over to the next person," Bullock said. "When you see someone hit foul shots in a pressure situation, you're that much more confident that you can do it the next time."

The victory over Indiana Feb. 18 was sealed by clutch free throw shooting down the stretch. Also, the Wolverines went to the line 35 times that night, unheard of against a Bobby Knight-coached team.