Utes simply aren't shooting enough free throws this year

An ongoing problem for the Utah basketball team is missing key free throws. It happened again in a loss at Wyoming when the Utes sank just 5 of 10 from the line.
While it’s true that missed free throws down the stretch of several games have perhaps cost the Utes a win here and there, the real problem this year is not getting to the foul line enough.
Most people, including coach Jim Boylen, might be surprised to learn that the Utes are shooting free throws better than any Utah team in 12 years. You have to go back to the 1995-96 team that shot 78.4 percent to find a team shooting better than the Utes’ 74.8 percentage for this season. Over the past 25 years only one other Ute team (’92-93) has shot better from the line.
The key stat is that the Utes are getting outshot at the foul line in total free throws by a whopping 537 to 424 margin. Only twice since 1995 have Ute opponents shot more free throws in a season than the Utes and one year it was just six more.
So what is the problem?
One theory is that the Mountain West Conference officials are giving Boylen the rookie treatment and calling more fouls on his team than the opponents.
Another is that the Utes are fouling more because of Boylen’s more aggressive defensive style.
A third is that the Utes are not going to the basket enough to draw fouls.
I think we have a winner in idea No. 3.
MWC officials aren’t singling out Boylen, especially considering that more than half of the league’s coaches are rookies.
The Utes’ fouling ratio is slightly lower than in the Giacoletti years, but just about the same as the Majerus years.
The big problem for the Utes is not attacking the basket enough and drawing fouls.
The Utes are averaging just 15.7 free throws per game, which is lower than any Ute team of the past 25 years and perhaps beyond. We only checked the stats back to 1983-84 season when Archibald took over for Jerry Pimm.
Part of the problem is the Utes’ personnel. They don’t really have a true power forward and the Utes’ 4 man, Shaun Green, rarely goes inside and thus, rarely goes to the line (just 16 free throws all year). The Ute wings are more content to shoot outside than go inside. And for some reason, Luke Nevill is averaging fewer free throws than each of the past two seasons.
One other big problem for the Utes when it comes to foul shooting is something they have no control over. That would be free throw defense. This year’s opponents are hitting 73.2 percent of their free throws, which is the best cumulative percentage of the past 25 years. If the Ute opponents weren’t so darn good at the foul line, perhaps the Utes would have a few more victories.