DAYTON, Ohio — With Syracuse’s season resting in his hands, Paschal Chukwu’s eyes fixated on the scoreboard.

Chukwu looked up, way up at the University of Dayton Arena scoreboard directly above him. He exhaled. Thirty-nine seconds remained in the game and SU led by one.

“We were desperate,” said Chukwu, SU’s 7-foot-2 junior center.

Chukwu had been here before. He missed each of his previous three attempts from the charity stripe earlier in the game. But SU assistant coach Allen Griffin told him at the most recent timeout that he needed to relax. Not rush. Take your time and finish high, Griffin told Chukwu.

He made his next two free throws to extend Syracuse’s lead to three, lifting the Orange (21-13, 8-10 Atlantic Coast) over Arizona State (20-12, 8-10 Pacific-12), 60-56, on Wednesday night. After the Sun Devils cut the SU lead back to one with 15 seconds to go, Chukwu made another free throw to all but seal the victory. He finished with five points and nine rebounds against the Sun Devils, roughly on par with his season averages (5.4 points, 6.9 rebounds per game).

The win, preserved by Chukwu’s free throws, earned the Orange a berth in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against sixth-seeded Texas Christian on Friday at 9:40 p.m. in Detroit.

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• Gallery: Syracuse earns first round berth in NCAA Tournament with 60-56 win over Arizona State

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Chukwu went 0-for-7 a year ago from the line. He made only one of his first six free throws to start this season. When he approached the line, he rushed his form. Opposing teams have gone out of their way to foul him and put him on the line. But Chukwu’s shot has gradually progressed, and he’s connected on 48-of-78 free throws this season, a 61.5 percent clip.

“I just have to relax,” Chukwu said. “Don’t think, just go down there, know in your mind you’re going to knock it down. The key for me is the elbow. I used to leave my elbows out. Today I released the ball high and followed through high.”

That’s largely because of a daily post-practice routine. Every day, Chukwu said, he and freshman forward Bourama Sidibe meet with Griffin to shoot 100 free throws each. They have to make at least 20 in a row during that span, said freshman forward Oshae Brissett, who finished with 23 points against ASU. The sessions last 20 or 25 minutes in length and “have made me a much better foul-shot shooter,” Chukwu said.

“After practice, he’s there forever,” junior point guard Frank Howard said.

At the start of the season, Griffin pulled Chukwu and Sidibe after a practice. Griffin, who specializes with SU’s bigs, told them what he wanted them to do: shoot 100 shots from the line, every single day. Chukwu and Sidibe take turns, and a student manager joins to collect the rebounds. They take only free throws from the line, rarely inching closer to form shoot or practice form by sitting on chairs, both common techniques. Griffin just observes, occasionally offering a line of advice.

“Allen says he knows people are going to foul us and make us shoot from the line,” Sidibe said. “Early in the year (Chukwu) was shaky, but now he’s comfortable.”

Chukwu said he felt most comfortable on Wednesday night when all eyes were zeroed in on him. The game, and Syracuse’s season, was dependent on his ability to knock down free throws. Sophomore guard Tyus Battle dumped off a pass his way near the hoop. Chukwu rose up, drawing a foul. He made the free throws, sending the fans clad in orange into a collective chant.

“Those shots,” Griffin said, “were the difference in the game.”

Published on March 15, 2018 at 12:58 am

Contact Matthew: mguti100@syr.edu | @MatthewGut21