Tyler Lundblade Shot 700 Freethrows a Day After an Injury, and Nobody in College Hoops Was Ready For It

Alright, listen up, because this story out of college basketball is absolutely wild and it's all about pure, relentless grind. Tyler Lundblade, the Tennessee transfer guard, talks about his shooting as a "God-given gift," right? Says he always had the knack. But get this: a serious injury, the kind that would sideline most dudes, actually *unlocked* an insane work ethic that turned him into one of the nation's deadliest shooters. This isn't just natural talent, folks, this is dedication you gotta see to believe.

From Chasing to Dominating: The Belmont Breakout

Lundblade's journey wasn't some smooth ride to the top. This dude bounced around, going from Dallas to SMU, then TCU, then Belmont, and finally to Tennessee. He even redshirted in 2020-21 at SMU and only played 15 games over two seasons at TCU. That's a lot of bouncing around, and as he puts it, "Because of the way my career has played out, I was always chasing and chasing and chasing. And so I think that just drove the work ethic that I have now." But then, at Belmont, it just *clicked*. During the 2024-25 season, he exploded, averaging 12.5 points per game and draining a mind-blowing 48.1% from beyond the arc. And he wasn't done! Last season, he leveled up again, averaging 15.6 points, grabbing the Missouri Valley Conference's Player of the Year award, and still hitting 40.6% from deep. He absolutely lit it up for Belmont, hitting 119 three-pointers in 65 games and shooting an absurd 93.8% from the free-throw line. Seriously, a near-perfect free throw shooter.

The Injury That Changed Everything

So, what was the secret sauce? Turns out, it was a sports hernia surgery during his time at TCU. He had a partial tear in his adductor, and while it was a quick, non-invasive procedure where he walked out the same day, there was a catch: he couldn't jump. No jump meant no jump shot. For most players, that's a nightmare. For Lundblade? It was an opportunity to redefine his game. He told "The Mike Keith Show" that he was "shooting 700, 800 free throws a day just to get something done." Imagine that! He couldn't go hard, couldn't condition, so all his effort for three months went into pure mechanics. "All my effort was just put in on my mechanics and refining and refining my shot," he said. He’s been obsessed with his shot and routine for over eight years, making between 300 and 500 shots *every single day*. This injury just amplified that maniacal focus. It's truly "stacks and stacks over time," as he puts it, compounding that gift into something elite.

Next Up: Tennessee and the NBA Dream

Rick Barnes and the Tennessee staff knew what they were seeing. Lundblade was their first transfer target, meeting him at the airport a day after their Sweet Sixteen loss. He proved he was one of college basketball's best shooters, and now he's got huge goals. He wanted to be on "a really great team and have a chance to go really deep in the (NCAA) Tournament," plus get better individually to prepare for the NBA. Tennessee promised to raise his floor, focusing on his shot-making while also improving his defense. For Lundblade, it was an "easy decision." Keep an eye on this guy, folks, because that kind of work ethic, especially after a setback, is the stuff legends are made of. What's he going to do next? I can't wait to find out.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.