The free throw is the most immutable element in basketball, executed from a standstill at a 15-foot distance from the basket and without active defensive pressure.
Those basics are unchanged since 1895, when the foul line was moved in from 20 feet. Who shoots free throws, and how many are awarded given the playing circumstances, have shifted over time, but the shot itself is unvarying regardless of player size, athleticism, stamina or any other factor.
Which makes it all the more impressive that, in this era when coaches and commentators bemoan a decline in players’ shooting mechanics and acuity, a pair of 2021 ACC teams are among the top four at converting foul shots in the conference’s 68-year history.