Wink Adams, money from the charity stripe

Sam Morris

UNLV guard Wink Adams shoots a free throw in a Jan. 23 game against Wyoming. Adams is one of the nation’s leading free-throw shooters at 87.3 percent, thanks to a new routine and hard work in the offseason.

By Rob Miech

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Four right-handed dribbles, then he cradles the ball like a baby to his left hand. One dribble. Knees bent, shoulders even with his feet, then he stares at the back of the rim.

UNLV junior guard Wink Adams struck free-throw-shooting gold on the Cox Pavilion practice court over the summer. He thinks he sank 30 or 40 in a row.

By locking in that routine, Adams transformed himself from a mediocre freebie shooter to one of the best in college basketball.

Adams driving to the basket is one of UNLV’s staple plays. He has shown a deft left hand this season, and he’ll either dish for an easy shot, get close to the rim himself or get fouled — and he makes free throws at an 87.3 percent clip.

He has spent much of the season among the Top 10 in Division I.

“Everyone has always said, ‘You need your own routine and stick with it,’ ” Adams says. “This season, I’ve stuck with my routine. It’s crazy. It’s been working, though.”

Big miss

At Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, Adams was stung at a Christmas tournament during his junior season. Ahead by two points, with seconds left, he walked to the line ... and missed. A kid for Port Arthur Lincoln High drilled a half-court shot for the victory. “That sticks with you,” Adams says.

Big improvement

At UNLV, he sank 72.3 percent of his attempts from the line as a freshman and 75.5 percent as a sophomore. With the new routine, Adams entered the week at 87.3 percent, for 22nd in Division I. The first time he looked at his season stats, he was 90-for-100. “Shocked,” he says. “I couldn’t believe it. But the work has paid off.”

Big assist

When Adams’ phone rings early in the morning, he knows it’s Rebels assistant coach Lew Hill. He reminds Adams to be at practice an hour early for shooting drills. Hill showed Adams and teammate Joe Darger, another sweet free-throw shooter, a game in which free throws don’t count if they hit the rim. Hill, who played at Wichita State, always beats both players.

No biggie

For the past 10 days, Adams has practiced and played with tape around the index finger on his right hand. Might be fractured, he says. But it doesn’t affect his shot too much. “Just tape it up and go,” Adams says. “I’ll check it after the season.”

Big easy

Adams, with power drives to the hoop, easily leads the Rebels in free-throw attempts. So it’s critical that he’s money at the line. That’s two points, teammates bark from the bench when he gets fouled. It’s automatic. “I hear all of that,” says Adams, smiling. “It gives me confidence to hit them.”