Tennessee's basketball season could be on the line Friday.

Literally.

The free-throw line usually looms large in NCAA tournament games and there's no reason to think the first-round UT-Long Beach State match-up in Columbus, Ohio, will be any different.

It is not, however, one of the categories in which you would give the Vols an edge.

UT is, in fact, one of the shakiest free-throw-shooting teams in the field. At 65.4 percent, the Vols rank 61st of the 65 teams in the bracket.

"I don't think we can do anything much different now,'' coach Bruce Pearl said Tuesday.

"We go through our normal routines and make sure they get plenty of 'em. We play plenty of free-throw games and contests and put all kinds of pressure on them during the season.''

Tennessee's reliance on freshmen is one hurdle. Like everything else about the college game, free-throw shooting seems more challenging than it did in high school.

"I was shooting good in high school,'' said point guard Ramar Smith. "It seemed a little bit easier.''

Added Wayne Chism, "I was a better free-throw shooter in high school but it seems like when you get to college, it changes.''

Smith is hitting 66.7 percent of his tries. Chism and fellow freshman big man Duke Crews are at an identical 59.6 percent.

The fourth freshman, Josh Tabb, is only 4-of-12.

As for the veterans, it hasn't been a banner year, either.

Of the five returning players, only JaJuan Smith has improved his accuracy from 2005-06 - from 56.9 percent to 72.3.

"It's focus,'' Pearl said. "Like any guy, JaJuan likes to put up some numbers.

"He wants to get to the line and make those. He'd rather score 16 than 12.''

Chris Lofton, UT's best free-throw shooter, has dipped from 91.7 percent last year to 80.1.

However, he's much more of a weapon at the line this year because he's getting there more often.

Lofton has attempted a team-high 146 free throws this season compared to 60 a year ago.

Dane Bradshaw, who has never reached 60 percent for a season, is at a career-low 56.3.

Ryan Childress has slacked off from 69.6 percent to 53.4; Jordan Howell is down from 75.0 to 68.4.

Poor free-throw shooting has been critical in several losses this year.

Check out the early-January swoon:

• 6-of-15 in an 82-81 loss at Vanderbilt.

• 5-of-11 in a 68-66 loss at Ohio State

• 5-of-12 in an 83-80 loss at Auburn.

Pearl takes some encouragement from a couple of trends.

For one, the Vols shoot better in the second half than in the first.

In the second half and overtime this year, their percentage rises to 70 percent.

"The reason why is we're on the lead most of the time,'' Pearl said, "and the ball is in the hands of our guards.

"In the first half, the ball is not necessarily in the guards' hands as much. It's equal opportunity.''

Also, Ramar Smith is getting more comfortable under pressure as the season plays out.

His ability to penetrate creates free-throw opportunities (135 so far) and he doesn't mind getting to the line in late-game situations.

"Hopefully, the refs will give me the call,'' he said.

"It's a matter of concentration. As the season went on, I concentrated more and practiced more, so I feel good about it.''

Hard Week: Pearl said the Vols have practiced hard since the SEC tournament but not especially well:

"Part of it is our scout team is not as strong so we tend to dominate them. It's very difficult to duplicate what Long Beach does because they've got very effective one-on-one players.'

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.