Alabama made 72 percent of its free throws this season.
So, when the Tide shot 23 free throws during regulation Sunday night against UCLA, the expectation was they would make 18.
That would be an average day. And that average day would have been enough to comfortably advance the Tide into the Elite 8.
Instead, they make only 10. Four times they missed the front end of a one-and-one.
The game went to overtime, where the Tide was 0-2 from the line to complete a 10-for-25 night.
There were many other what-ifs for Alabama. But the simple skill of making free throws is all the Tide needed to survive and advance.
It’s too late for this season, but Alabama needs to Tighten Up from the line if it plans to build on this breakthrough season.
For Threaded Fasteners, I’m Randy Kennedy with Tighten Up.