Kansas basketball still has one glaring weakness despite their success

Kansas basketball has been on a roll lately, but they still have one glaring issue that could cost them games in the future.

Since losing to Baylor in early January, Kansas basketball has gone on to win their past 11 games. It’s been an impressive run for the Jayhawks that’s featured victories over ranked opponents like West Virginia and Texas Tech, but Kansas is far from flawless.

As a matter of fact, the Jayhawks have a glaring problem: free throws.

According to KenPom, Kansas basketball is shooting just 66.7 percent from the charity stripe this season which ranks no. 294 in the country.

Let’s take a look back at one of the Jayhawks’ more impressive wins this season where Kansas beat Dayton in overtime on a neutral court.

The Jayhawks shot 28 free throws in the extended game, but at a rate of 71 percent totaling 20 points from the line.  Had they shot their average, they’d have only scored 18 points, possibly losing the game.

The bottom line is that making only two out of every three foul shots simply won’t do, and before you blame the weak percentage on Udoka Azubuike, look at the stats of other guys on the team.

• Udoka Azubuike – 42.6 percent
• Marcus Garrett – 63.2 percent
• Ochai Agbaji – 65.2 percent
• Christian Braun – 70.8 percent
• Devon Dotson – 81.4 percent
• David McCormack – 81.6 percent
• Isaiah Moss – 88.5 percent

Garrett and Agbaji are both under 70 percent, and Braun is flirting with the line. Probably the biggest shock on the list is David McCormack, who’s somehow managed to be more accurate from the line than Dotson. And before you say something about sample size, McCormack has attempted nearly 40 free throws this season, so it’s no fluke.

One way the Jayhawks could improve their percentage is by getting Moss to the line more. He’s only had had 26 attempts this season, but once again his strong percentage isn’t a fluke. His past two seasons at Iowa were also good from the line, the problem though is that driving isn’t really his game.

Moss will drive occasionally, but he’s most comfortable in a catch and shoot scenario, unlike Dotson who specializes in getting to the rim and getting fouled in the process.

66.7 percent isn’t going to get it done for Kansas.  If the Jayhawks don’t start shooting better from the line they could easily lose a game by a point or two in March, which seems to happen to multiple teams every season.