Cassara putting heavy emphasis on free throw shooting

New Hofstra men's basketball head coach Mo Cassara constantly reminds his players about the importance of free throw shooting and how in each game it can be the difference between winning or losing. His players certainly for the message this past Saturday when the Pride shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe in a 74-62 win over Towson in the Colonial Athletic Association opener.

Saturday was the first time Hofstra was perfect from the free throw line since going 10-for-10 against St. John's on Dec. 29, 2006 in the Aeropostale Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. "I talk about [the importance of free throws] all the time and they are sick of hearing me say it," joked Cassara in the post-game press conference after Saturday's win over Towson. "We've been working on it and working on it."

Coach Cassara would not doubt like to see the Pride's season free throw shooting average of 67 percent improve the remainder of the season, but Saturday's perfect showing in the start of conference play is certainly a start. Last season Hofstra shot 73 percent from the charity stripe.

New Hofstra men's basketball head coach Mo Cassara in full court press mode this summer

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

The summer of 2010 has been far from a relaxing one for new Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Mo Cassara who spent a 25 day stretch in July and early August attending camps and AAU tournaments in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Augusta, Ga., Miami, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix and New York City. Cassara has returned to Long Island from his aggressive recruiting journey around the country and continues to focus on the future of the Pride program while gearing up for the 2010/2011 season.

“It was a busy, busy month for our whole staff,” said Cassara, a St. Lawrence University graduate who arrived at Hofstra after serving as an assistant coach at Boston College for the past four seasons. “We’re getting our feet on the ground.”