Xavier has totaled 97 free throw attempts the past two games. That's no accident. XU, historically a strong foul-shooting team, aims to make more free throws than its opponent attempts. And it has: XU is 344-for-485 (.709) this season; its opponents are 189-for-299 (.632).

        “You win the game when that happens,” coach Skip Prosser said. “Even as a high school coach, that's something I tried to stress.”

        In 10 of XU's 14 wins, it has made more foul shots than its opponents attempted. It failed to do so in all three of its losses.

        Foul shooting is emphasized daily. Prosser tells the players, “They're free throws. They're the last thing in life you'll get for free.”

        XU leads the Atlantic 10 in made free throws and ranks second in percentage. Three times it has led the league in percentage.

        “Those are points you have to have,” Prosser said. “We recruit good-enough shooters. We spend time at it; we should be able to make our share.”

        XU is averaging 20.2 made free throws a game, a shade above the 18.2 it aver aged two years ago in setting its single-season record for made free throws (656).

        The last time XU made more free throws than its opponents attempted was 1994-95, when it went 23-5. XU has made more free throws than have its opponents in every season since 1991-92.

        “If we're attacking the basket and throwing the ball inside, we should be getting a lot of free throws,” Prosser said. “You have to give teams a chance to foul you. You have to be a little bit patient — not shoot too quick — and take the ball to the blocks.”

        Of great help is that XU's big men all shoot well — Kevin Frey hits .831, David West .730 and Reggie Butler .769.

        West (116-for-159) has improved on his .667 shooting of last season. He could threaten XU's single-season mark for makes (204) and attempts (253), both set by Byron Larkin in 1986-87.

        “It's important to get those points and make something out of each possession,” West said.

        Frey ranks fifth in the A-10 in percentage.

        “When we make free throws, we can set up in our (full-court) pressure defense, which makes the press more effective,” Frey said.

Xavier Stories

XU's formula: More free throws, more wins

Reese skipping RedsFest in contract dispute
Boone's goal: Opening Day
Reds sign Tucker for 2 more years
Schott hospitalized again
Louisville's swagger, glamour gone
Palmer could get job today
Center award named for Rimington
DAUGHERTY: Pro athletes think everything's irrelevant but themselves
Lewis tries to end talk of murder trial
Collins celebrates victory over alcohol
Super Bowl list
Super Bowl Notebook
SULLIVAN: Is technology leaving golf behind?
Miami gets boost from bench
Alabama 70, Kentucky 60
Cyclones 7, Orlando 0
Elder football stars commit
Boys basketball coverage
Girls basketball coverage
St. X beats Alter, stays atop GCL South
Cincinnati boys basketball games
Cincinnati girls basketball games
N.Ky. boys basketball games
N.Ky. girls basketball games
Brossart, NewCath busy at state 'A' Classic
Boys All 'A' Classic schedule
Girls All 'A' Classic schedule
Indiana boys basketball scores
Indiana girls basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball polls
Cincinnati boys swimming honor roll
Cincinnati girls swimming honor roll
Cincinnati high school results

• Return to Xavier front page...