As soon as the ball left Michael Drysch’s hand, he had a feeling.

In the days before the 50-year-old McHenry computer technician stood on the Miami Heat logo Friday night for a shot at $75,000, he had tried every conceivable method of getting his 42-foot shot on target.

Last week, he had spent his lunch hour outdoors, first on the outdoor court outside his Vernon Hills office before traveling to a nearby park. He attempted shooting in a two-hand underhand fashion. He tried to throw it like a baseball. But before long, Drysch decided a sky hook shot would provided the most momentum and give him his best chance.