When the pressure rises and games tighten in the final minutes, championship-caliber teams rely on discipline, composure, and execution. For the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball, one glaring weakness continues to threaten all three: free-throw shooting.
After Monday’s matchup, forward Henri Veesaar didn’t sugarcoat the issue. When asked what the Tar Heels can do to close out games better, he laughed and offered a simple, honest answer: “Make some free throws. That would help.” Beneath the lighthearted tone was a serious truth that everyone inside the locker room understands.
North Carolina shot just 7-for-13 from the line in the second half Monday night and finished 9-of-19 overall — their worst performance of the season. In a game where every possession mattered, those 10 missed opportunities loomed large. Free throws are often described as “free points,” but for the Tar Heels, they have become anything but automatic.
The issue isn’t new. It has quietly followed the team throughout the season, surfacing at the worst possible moments. While explosive offense, transition scoring, and defensive intensity have helped the Heels stay competitive, their inability to consistently convert at the stripe keeps opponents within striking distance.
Late-game situations magnify every weakness. Opposing teams know that if they foul, there’s a realistic chance North Carolina won’t make them pay. That changes strategy. It shifts momentum. It builds belief on the other bench.
The mental aspect of free-throw shooting cannot be ignored. Mechanics matter, but confidence matters just as much. When misses stack up, hesitation creeps in. Players begin thinking instead of reacting. Routine becomes overthought. The result? Short shots. Long rebounds. Empty trips in critical moments.
For a program with the championship pedigree of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball, these details are the difference between advancing in March and heading home early. Historically, great Carolina teams have thrived in pressure situations because they handled the fundamentals. Free throws fall squarely into that category.
The numbers tell a sobering story. Shooting under 50 percent in a single game from the line is alarming at this level. Doing so in the second half — when legs are tired and stakes are higher — compounds the problem. In close contests, even a modest improvement to 70 percent could swing outcomes dramatically.
What makes the situation more frustrating is that free-throw shooting is one of the few aspects of the game entirely within a player’s control. No defender contests the shot. The distance never changes. The environment is consistent. It comes down to preparation, repetition, and mental toughness.
Coaches often emphasize that free throws reflect focus. They are a direct measurement of concentration under pressure. For North Carolina, improvement doesn’t require a system overhaul or tactical reinvention. It requires accountability and daily commitment at the line.
The good news? This is fixable.
Teams have turned around free-throw struggles before postseason play with dedicated practice segments, pressure simulations, and individualized mechanical adjustments. Building consistency starts with routine — same dribble count, same breath, same release. Confidence grows from repetition.
Leadership will also play a critical role. Veteran players must set the tone in practice, demanding sharper focus and higher standards. When the margin between winning and losing is razor-thin, details can no longer be optional.
There’s still time. The season is not defined by one poor night at the line. But patterns become habits if left unaddressed. The Tar Heels are talented enough to compete with anyone. Their ceiling remains high. Yet potential means little if preventable mistakes continue to surface when it matters most.
Championship teams embrace uncomfortable truths. They confront weaknesses head-on rather than hoping they disappear. Veesaar’s candid comment may have drawn a laugh, but it should also serve as a rallying cry.
Make the free throws.
Because in tight games, they aren’t just points — they are momentum. They are control. They are the difference between celebrating and second-guessing.
As March approaches and pressure intensifies, the Tar Heels face a defining question: will they let missed opportunities define their season, or will they transform a weakness into a strength?
The answer begins 15 feet from the basket.
And it starts now.
