The Tennessee Volunteers had a tough night at the free-throw line in their matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night. The Volunteers shot just 11-of-20 from the charity stripe, a dismal 35 percent clip, in a 69-58 loss to their arch-rival.<\/p>\n
The poor shooting performance was a major factor in the Volunteers’ defeat, as they missed key free throws down the stretch that could have changed the outcome of the game. Kentucky was able to capitalize on Tennessee’s missed opportunities and pull away in the second half.<\/p>\n
So why did Tennessee struggle so much at the free-throw line? There are a few factors that likely contributed to the Volunteers’ struggles.<\/p>\n
First, the Volunteers were playing in a hostile environment in Rupp Arena. The Kentucky fans were loud and intimidating, and it could have affected the Volunteers’ concentration and focus.<\/p>\n
Second, Tennessee was playing a physical game against Kentucky and was likely fatigued by the end of the contest. Fatigue can lead to poor free-throw shooting, as players are often not able to focus and concentrate on the task at hand.<\/p>\n
Third, Tennessee was playing a team with a strong defensive presence. Kentucky’s defense is one of the best in the country, and they were able to disrupt the Volunteers’ offensive rhythm and force them into tough shots.<\/p>\n
Finally, Tennessee was playing a team with a lot of size and length. Kentucky’s length and size can make it difficult for opposing teams to get good looks at the basket, and it can also make it difficult to get to the free-throw line.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Tennessee’s struggles at the free-throw line were a combination of factors, including a hostile environment, fatigue, a strong defensive presence, and a lot of size and length. The Volunteers were unable to overcome these obstacles and suffered a tough loss to their arch-rival.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Tennessee Volunteers had a tough night at the free-throw line in their matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night. The Volunteers shot just 11-of-20 from the charity stripe, a dismal 35 percent clip, in a 69-58 loss to their arch-rival. The poor shooting performance was a major factor in the Volunteers’ defeat, as …<\/p>\n