Kyler Filewich free throw: Why Wofford C shoots free throws underhand in March Madness
For anyone who has watched college basketball for any amount of time, the scene is a familiar one.
In the waning seconds of a tight game in the NCAA Tournament, a player steps to the free-throw line to either ice a win or pull their trailing team closer. For a handful of seconds, the eyeballs of millions are fixed on a college-aged student trying to get one step closer to their dreams.
If the Wofford men’s basketball team finds itself in that position sometime over the next week, perhaps beginning with its first-round matchup today with No. 2 seed Tennessee, it’s possible that one of its players walks into that pressurized situation in a way that few do.
Terriers center Kyler Filewich is a rarity among not only college basketball players, but basketball players at any level — he shoots his free throws under-handed or, as it’s more commonly known, “granny style.”
Filewich’s technique attracted nationwide attention last week in Wofford’s victory against Furman in the Southern Conference Tournament championship game, when a video of him missing an underhand free throw with about 15 minutes remaining in regulation made the rounds on social media.
We’ve got Granny Style free throws on national TV, courtesy of Wofford’s Kyler Filewich.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 11, 2025
The BEAUTY of Conference Tournament Week. pic.twitter.com/FaTzJs42VB
If Wofford makes some kind of run in the NCAA Tournament, and if Filewich plays any role in that success, he could be the next person in a long and proud line of March Madness cult heroes.
Here’s a closer look at Filewich and his approach to free throws:
Wofford basketball underhand free throws
Filewich has been an integral player on a Wofford team that’s making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
The 6-foot-9 Winnipeg, Manitoba native has started in all 34 of his team’s games this season and is averaging 11.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The latter figure ranks him among the top 20 players nationally and his 318 rebounds this season are a program single-season record.
Like some big men, though, Filewich struggles when it comes to consistently knocking down free throws.
Across his five seasons of college basketball, the first two of which were spent at Southern Illinois, Filewich has made just 37% of his free throws. He has never shot better than 50% in a season, which came as a sophomore at Southern Illinois on a career-low 34 attempts. In each of the past two seasons, he is shooting below 32% from the charity stripe.
As he and his coaches saw it, something had to change. A potential fix was soon identified: his form.
In early February, shortly after he missed all eight of his free throw attempts in a Jan. 29 loss against VMI, the Terriers’ coaching staff approached Filewich to see if he’d be open to changing his mechanics on free throws and if he’d consider going granny style.
There were understandable reasons for Filewich to be hesitant. Underhand free throws are incredibly uncommon, particularly at the NBA and college levels. The explanation for it isn’t particularly complex — granny style free throws are awkward-looking and an easy subject for ridicule and jokes, something that high-level athletes with a good deal of personal pride aren’t enthusiastic to sign up for.
Because of that, there have been precious few examples of Division I or professional basketball players employing the technique. Most famously, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry shot free throws that way and did so quite well, making 89.3% of his free throws over the course of his decorated NBA career. Barry’s son, Canyon, who played at College of Charleston and Florida, followed in his father’s footsteps and shot free throws underhand, as well. Beyond the Barry family, though, there have been precious few examples, with former Houston Rockets and Louisville big man Chinanu Onuaku perhaps the most notable acolyte.
If Filewich needed any further convincing, Wofford had a wrinkle to its pitch — it would bring in Barry to the school’s Spartanburg, South Carolina campus to help him through the nuances of the underhand free throw.
“It actually doesn’t happen very much, which is crazy when you think about it,” Barry said to The Athletic. “This is scientifically proven to be the best method! It’s such a soft shot. When they called, my first question was, is (Kyler) serious? Because I’m not going to waste my time.”
Filewich was serious and quickly took to the new form.
Though his improvement hasn’t been drastic, the big man has been converting on his free-throw attempts at a higher clip.
When he made the switch ahead of a Feb. 5 game against Chattanooga, Filewich had made just 24 of his 79 free-throw attempts (30.4%). Since then, he has knocked down 18 of his 51 attempts (35.3%), raising his season average almost two percentage points. In two games since going underhand, he has made at least 60% of his free throws in two games. In the Southern Conference championship game that sent Wofford to the NCAA Tournament, he made two critical free throws that extended the Terriers’ lead from three to five with about six minutes remaining.
Kyler Filewich free throw percentage
Filewich is making 31.8% of his free throws this season, the second-lowest mark of his career.
Here’s a look at Filewich’s year-by-year free-throw percentage:
- 2020-21: 46% (29 of 63)
- 2021-22: 50% (17 of 34)
- 2022-23: 40.7% (24 of 59)
- 2023-24: 31.6% (31 of 98)
- 2024-25: 31.8% (42 of 132)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyler Filewich free throw: Why Wofford C shoots 'granny style'
Topics
-
Struggling with free throws, Wofford's Filewich turns to granny-style — with help from Rick Barry
Kyler Filewich doesn't go to the free-throw line looking for style points, just those that count on the scoreboard for Wofford. Or the shot that Basketball Hall of Fame member Rick Barry turned ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
The 6-Foot-9 College Basketball Player Who Shoots Free Throws Underhand
Kyler Filewich’s unusual free throw form will be on display in the first round of the men’s N.C.A.A. tournament.The New York Times - 14h -
NCAA Tournament 2025: Stories of trash cans, a boom box, underhand free throws and a terrifying mascot
Learn these obscure stories entering March Madness 2025 and impress your friends while filling out your NCAA Tournament brackets.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
What channel is Tennessee basketball vs Wofford on today? Time, TV schedule to watch March Madness game
What channel is the Tennessee basketball vs Wofford March Madness game on today? Here's how to watch, including time, TV schedule, live streaming info and game odds.Yahoo Sports - 22h -
Tennessee versus Wofford basketball March Madness time, TV details in NCAA Tournament
A look at television and game information for Tennessee's first-round basketball matchup in the NCAA Tournament against Wofford.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Score predictions for Tennessee versus Wofford March Madness college basketball game
Vols Wire provides score predictions for the Tennessee-Wofford basketball game in the NCAA Tournament first round.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Chaz Lanier and No. 2 seed Tennessee breeze past No. 15 seed Wofford 77-62 in March Madness
Chaz Lanier scored 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting and No. 2 seed Tennessee never trailed in a 77-62 victory over Wofford on Thursday night that sent the Volunteers to the second round of the NCAA ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
What Wofford basketball coach Dwight Perry said after loss to Tennessee, playing at Rupp
Wofford coach Dwight Perry returned to Rupp Arena for first round of March Madness. The Terriers lost to Tennessee.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Tennessee vs. Wofford odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its Wofford vs. Tennessee picks for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on ThursdayCBS Sports - 11h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Barcelona star reaches 50 G/A contribution for club and country; reinforces Ballon d’Or candidacy
Barcelona forward Raphinha has been in exceptional form this season, delivering outstanding performances for both Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. His consistency in front of goal and ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
2025 NFL power rankings: Where Chargers stand after free agency
The Los Angeles Chargers are sitting near the top 10 in the latest power rankings.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Women's March Madness 2025: 35 players from Illinois who are part of the NCAA tournament
Women's March Madness: Here is a list of 35 college basketball players from Illinois who will play in the 2025 NCAA women's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 27m -
Wood hat-trick as rampant New Zealand move to brink of World Cup
Chris Wood scored a hat-trick of headers as New Zealand moved to within one win of the World Cup with a 7-0 demolition of Fiji on Friday.In the first semi-final of Oceania qualifying, New Caledonia ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
Likes, dislikes from Fox's IndyCar debut and what to watch at The Thermal Club
Fox's debut IndyCar race broadcast featured both highlights and hiccups. IndyStar motorsports insider Nathan Brown offers his likes, dislikes and improvements for Thermal.Yahoo Sports - 29m
More in Sports
-
Barcelona star reaches 50 G/A contribution for club and country; reinforces Ballon d’Or candidacy
Barcelona forward Raphinha has been in exceptional form this season, delivering outstanding performances for both Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. His consistency in front of goal and ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
2025 NFL power rankings: Where Chargers stand after free agency
The Los Angeles Chargers are sitting near the top 10 in the latest power rankings.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Women's March Madness 2025: 35 players from Illinois who are part of the NCAA tournament
Women's March Madness: Here is a list of 35 college basketball players from Illinois who will play in the 2025 NCAA women's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 27m -
Your guide to March Madness Day 1: Recaps, every winner's chance to advance, more
Whether you missed the action or simply want to relive it, here's a rundown of all 16 games from Thursday.ESPN - 27m -
Wood hat-trick as rampant New Zealand move to brink of World Cup
Chris Wood scored a hat-trick of headers as New Zealand moved to within one win of the World Cup with a 7-0 demolition of Fiji on Friday.In the first semi-final of Oceania qualifying, New Caledonia ...Yahoo Sports - 29m