For the first time in Bill Self’s illustrious 21-year tenure as the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, his team is struggling with something that was once considered a hallmark of the program: getting to the free-throw line. Historically, Kansas has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of favorable whistles at Allen Fieldhouse, but this season, that trend has come to a screeching halt. The Jayhawks currently rank No. 362 in free throw rate — the lowest of Self’s tenure and the fourth-lowest in the nation.
At just 20.2 free throw attempts per 100 field goal attempts, KU’s free-throw rate is among the worst in college basketball. In fact, it’s the lowest such mark since the 2017-18 season, when Kansas reached the Final Four before being eliminated by Villanova. That squad, which ranked No. 329 in free-throw rate, was known for a strong overall performance but fell short in key moments — and this season, there are signs that history may repeat itself.
In KU’s latest game against NC State, a glaring example of the free-throw disparity emerged. By halftime, the Wolfpack had shot 11 free throws compared to just one for Kansas. NC State converted six of their attempts, while the Jayhawks finished the game with only seven attempts at the charity stripe. It marked a continuing trend: Kansas has now gone six halves without getting into the bonus, with three consecutive games showing a significant imbalance in free-throw opportunities.
“We’ve been the beneficiary of shooting more free throws than our opponents for 21 straight years, and it is tougher when teams average 11 more opportunities a game than what we get or something like that,” Self said. “So we’ve got to find some way to stem the tide.” But while Self has emphasized the importance of attacking the rim and drawing fouls, Kansas has yet to adjust effectively.
Kansas guard Zeke Mayo, however, downplayed the issue following the win over NC State. “When we’re outscoring opponents and getting stops, the free throws aren’t really a necessity,” Mayo said. “But it is a nice little touch when we can get to the free throw line and get those free points.” His comment highlights the team’s success at putting points on the board through other means, but it also underscores a significant problem: without free throws, it will be harder for Kansas to compete in tight games, especially as the postseason approaches.
Free-throw rate isn’t always an immediate red flag for a championship contender, but it can be a major warning sign. In fact, no team has ranked below No. 300 in free-throw rate and won a national title since the 2014-15 season, though several title-winning teams have ranked outside the top 200. Those teams — like Baylor in 2021, Virginia in 2019, and Kansas in 2022 — all had one thing in common: they excelled at shooting the three-ball.
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, they’ve also struggled in that department this season. Kansas ranks 309th in 3-point rate and 101st in 3-point percentage at 35.4%. This is particularly concerning, as teams that rely on the perimeter often end up shooting fewer free throws — and without a consistent 3-point game to make up for it, Kansas is caught in a difficult bind.
Self noted that the current game has evolved, with driving to the basket being one of the most effective ways to draw fouls. Kansas, however, lacks a player capable of consistently getting downhill and forcing defenders into foul situations. This is compounded by Kansas’ reliance on a mid-range game and an offense that isn’t as adept at breaking down defenses in the paint as in past years.
“We’re not shooting many 3s, and we are getting fouled less,” Self explained. “We haven’t thrown inside as much, which, unfortunately, the way the game used to be, that’s how you got to the free throw line by throwing inside. Now, you get to the free throw line by driving. We don’t have guys that obviously drive the ball downhill as well as some others that we will play against.”
It’s clear that Self understands the issue and the importance of addressing it before it derails their season. Kansas must find a way to adjust to the current whistle and get to the line more often. As Self said, “The whistle has nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with the things people consider fouls and how you get to the free throw line. It hasn’t been as conducive to us getting there because in large part we haven’t taken advantage of the way the whistle is going to be, which is drive it, drive it, drive it, drive it.”
For Kansas to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, they need to improve their free-throw rate and 3-point shooting consistency. If they continue to struggle in both areas, it will be hard for them to compete with other elite teams like UConn and Baylor, who have found ways to offset their free-throw deficiencies with other strengths. With the postseason looming, the Jayhawks must figure out how to adjust their offensive approach and find a way to get to the free-throw line consistently. If they don’t, their championship hopes could be in serious jeopardy.
