Free throw shooting has gotten downright pathetic in college basketball. Watching the NCAA Tournament has confirmed this. Time and time again, teams with leads could not close the deal.

And it’s a trend that’s been happening for awhile now. There are a few examples that come to mind. In the 2003 National Championship game, Kansas shot 12 for 30 in losing to Syracuse by three points. Had the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shot better than 8 for 20 from the foul stripe in the 2004 Horizon League Championship game, they’d have made four straight trips to the NCAA tournament. They lost by three.

Even the “pros” have gotten into the act. In an NBA All-Star game a few years back, the two teams combined for 16 of 32. Granted it was an exhibition, but if the “game’s best” can only combine for 50 percent, it’s terrible.

Let’s review what a free throw is. You’re 15 feet from the hoop, you’re unguarded and it’s the same shot every time. That’s right, while the scenario may differ, the idea never does.

That’s why there’s no reason every college guard or swingman cannot shoot 80 percent from the line. And every other player should hit at least 70 percent. I mean they are going to class for free, right?

The problem is they’re simply not practiced enough. Players are content with practicing reverse dunks rather than boring free throws. But at the end of the day, what do you spend more time doing, dunking or shooting foul shots?

There used to be a day when teams relished getting in the bonus foul shot scenario. But watching teams miss time and time again on the front end has gotten more than ridiculous.

What’s gotten Memphis over the hump and into the Final Four is their substantial improvement from the line. If they had not improved, they would’ve been the only one-seed eliminated.

But while we’re on the subject of that team, one of their stars, Joey Dorsey, shot 45 of 119 on the year for 38 percent. Yes, Dorsey can kick my tail in one-on-one, but I think I can shoot 38 percent on an early Sunday morning.

Bad free throw shooting; it’s an epidemic and it needs to end. Please, the game is being ruined.

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