Cajuns focus on fixing free throw woes.

LOUISIANA La. - Robert Lee knew when the season began that Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns would have to work to manufacture points.

He just didn't imagine that the problem would carry over to the free throw line.

The Cajuns are 6-7 on the season and 0-1 in Sun Belt Conference play after last Saturday's 72-66 home loss to Denver, and in five games this season they have shot under 50 percent at the line.

In their last three games they are a combined 23-of-58, a shocking 39.7 percent.

Recently, opponents have been shooting better on 3-point attempts than UL has on charities.

It's enough to make players pray they don't get fouled in crunch time, and that's not a good place to be.

"I've considered bringing in a psychiatrist to help them with it," Lee said on Monday. "I've had some of the players tell me they don't want to go up there and shoot them. I tell them to fall down like you're hurt and we'll get somebody else up there."

Seriously, aside from Tiras Wade (41-of-57, 71.9 percent) and injured Orien Greene (76.9), the Cajuns are struggling when it comes to free chances.

"The only way to get over it is to somehow have some success," Lee said. "If you keep failing, it weighs on you even more."

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com