Which is more distracting during freethrows?

[engrshock]

After watching games at Koch for the last 10 years I am wondering which is more distracting.

Is it the wild cheering, spinning wheels and waving for the opposing team to miss a free throw?

or

Is it the dead silence that suddenly occurs just before one of the Shocker players shoots a free throw?

[Wuzee]

If you're confident, it's probably a wash. Otherwise, the latter is tougher -- or the fear of the groan that follows a miss.

I always thought the best would be a combination of the two.

Deadly silence until just before he shoots ... then mayhem.

Or the opposite, perhaps shrinking in fear and looking en masse off to one side to trigger a flight response.

Anybody know a psychologist, or Utah State student who could weigh in?

[pinstripers]

Being flashed by coeds?

[Aargh]

Being flashed by coeds?

That would work. I'm going to need binoculars top make sure the flash is properly executed for maximum distraction.

[ShockRef]

Utah State students are the best, with the infamous Dukies a close second.

The sight of 'Red-shirt Junior' Wild Bill dancing 3/4 naked is very disturbing.

Of course, that's the intent and he is successful on a regular basis. 8)

[ShockBand]

Being flashed by coeds?

That would work. I'm going to need binoculars top make sure the flash is properly executed for maximum distraction.

Perhaps a review committee would be in order? Volunteers?

[SB Shock]

Last year Evansville game comes to mind after the bad foul call gives them 3 FT to win the game - the Crowd to the place to deafing inside Koch and Ned Cox missed his only FT of the night to allow the game go to OT (he was 5 of 6).

Now I guess you could argue hitting 2 of 3 was his season average, so the crowd didn't matter, but I like to think it did.

[Kung Wu]

Re: Which is more distracting during freethrows?

Is it the dead silence that suddenly occurs just before one of the Shocker players shoots a free throw?

I have wondered about this too. It would almost be better if everyone started talking in a low voice to each other. It would be a nice white noise that would be less pressure on the shooter, and could possibly drown out any visiting fan's cackles.

[RoyalShock]

There should be two signs in the student section. One that reads "QUIET" on both sides and one that reads "LOUD" on both sides. One student raises QUIET as the teams line up for the FTs. That sign is lowered after the ref hands the ball to the shooter. Upon the shooter's last preparatory dribble another student raises LOUD. Any visual distractions could also begin at this time.

Students on the outer sides of the student section can spread the word to adjacent sections until enough people follow along to make it obvious what is expected of them. It may take 2-3 games to get everyone on the same page.

[griswald13]

Players are very consistent when shooting free throws. They all have their own little things they do like some dribble a few times or what not. The best thing that would mess a player up is to try to overload their senses. So a combination of visual and noise is best. A player probably practices free throws in a somewhat quiet gym so being quiet just doesn't seem like it would work very well to me. As far as ideas for things to do, I am not very creative. They gave out long blow up balloons at a game last year for students to wave around. It would be nice to do something besides just waving our arms around and screaming.

[SubGod22]

Personally, I hated silence. My student section knew to make some sort of noise while I was shooting.

[capnkirk]

Maybe when opponents shoot freethrows we should mimic what the shooter is doing like "hold it, hold it, take a breathe, holding it" and so on and yell before he releases the ball. Kinda like when they foul out of the game. And when we shoot the crowd could clap or chant something like "let's go shockers."

[shock]

Making them laugh? Laughing would throw off their concentration and be more effective. its sometimes easier too. But the question of how to make them laugh would arise. Surely some of you are more witty than me. I wouldn't know where to begin. Idk. Just a thought.

[WuSlamaJama]

I've thought about everyone making their cell phones ring.

[wusphlash]

Why don't the coed's flash them and then we'll all throw them beads!!!!!!!![img] :yahoo: [/img]