ACC Players Who Mastered Getting To The Line Last Year

The leaders may surprise you

All those years watching Armando Bacot bull/muscle/maneuver to attack the offensive boards — and perhaps complaining along the way about his tactics — you would understandably expect the Tar Heel led the league in getting fouled in the act of shooting in 2024. And cashed in, especially considering he made an estimable 78 percent of his free throws in Carolina’s 37 games.

And you would be wrong.

Bacot, although it seemed he lived at the line, collected 614 free throws tries over the past three seasons, 205 per year. The 6-11 post player tailed off last season with only 187 attempts. That only tied for third.

The league leader in earning foul shots was Syracuse’s 6-4 Judah Mintz. An Oak Hill Academy product from Maryland, Mintz got to the line 264 times last season, an average of 8.3 per game. That after attempting 185 free throws as the ’23 runnerup for ACC Rookie of the Year.

Remarkably, given his free throw opportunities, Mintz is not an exceptional rebounder, on the offensive boards or overall. But he was second in the ACC in steals (67, 2.1 per game), earning foul shots on drives and jumpers. He also made 76.5 percent of his 8.3 free throws per game, about 2 more per outing than any other leader in reaching the line.

Overall Mintz accumulated 18.8 points per game, second in the league to UNC’s RJ Davis, the ’24 ACC Player of the Year. His efforts were recognized broadly, as he, like Bacot, was voted second-team All-ACC by secret, selective league-wide ballot.

Then there’s Florida State junior Jamir Watkins. A small forward from New Jersey, Watkins is variously listed as standing 6-5, 6-6, or 6-7. What’s indisputable is his status as FSU leading returning scorer (15.6) and rebounder (6.0). His 65 steals, including in 11 straight games at one point, were fourth-best in the ACC. The transfer from Virginia Commonwealth – he sat out one year and has one season of eligibility remaining – tried 205 free throws, second in the ACC, and made a .795 portion (163-205).

Following the ’24 season Watkins investigated going pro, then contemplated entering the transfer portal, but ultimately stayed in Tallahassee.