The most interesting bit of information coming out of today's practice was the "report" of Jamal Coombs-McDaniel's free-throw shooting exploits from a day earlier.
During practice on Thursday, players broke off into small groups at each of Gampel's baskets to shoot 50 free throws. Coombs-McDaniel made all 50 of his ... and kept going, and going, and going.
When he had gotten to about 85 straight, Jim Calhoun moved him over to a different basket. Didn't matter, kept hitting them. Trash-talking by his teammates behind him as he shot? Jerome Dyson literally right up in his grill as he was shooting? No problem -- swish, swish, swish (and no, he wasn't shooting underhanded a la Rick Barry ... or Richie Cunningham).
Finally, Coombs-McDaniel missed after making 137 straight. Yup, 137 straight. And if that sounds like one of Calhoun's statistical exaggerations, it's not -- it's been confirmed by several others who were at practice that day.
"He was talking trash after," reported his good buddy, Alex Oriakhi. "He's a good free throw shooter."
Supposedly, Craig Austrie hit 119 in a row last year and Ray Allen held the "unofficial" record fo 126 straight (don't bother looking that one up in the UConn media guide) until Coombs-McDaniel came along.
"He keeps saying he's a better shooter than Ray Allen," Oriakhi said. "I hope he says that when (Allen) comes up here."
Calhoun was asked if this means he expects Coombs-McDaniel to never miss in games now.
"He missed two here, when it counts," said the coach, referring to Coombs-McDaniel's misses as the team tried to avoid having to run suicides.
Indeed, Coombs-McDaniel is a somewhat pedestrian 20-for-29 (69 percent) on the season. Oriakhi (41 percent) would kill for that.
"I'm trying to make two in a row," he said.
at least someone can hit a free throw for uconn.
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