Kansas basketball: Improvements behind the arc will be a must for 2021-22 season

As excitement continues to surround Kansas basketball this offseason, fans should hope to see some increased productivity from the three-point line when they return to the floor.

The Jayhawks finished fifth in the Big 12 from the perimeter with a percentage of .342 this past season. As January arrived, it seemed as if Kansas could rarely knock down a three-pointer during crunch time.

With the offseason additions of point guard transfers Remy Martin and Joseph Yesufu, along with veteran wing Jalen Coleman-Lands, Kansas could have a different story to tell when shooting the three-ball this year.

We’re starting to get a confident sense of what this roster could look like when November rolls around, and it’s safe to say head coach Bill Self has quite a bit of talent at his disposal.

Current roster outlook

PG: Remy Martin, Dajuan Harris, Joseph Yesufu

G: Jalen Wilson, Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, Jalen Coleman-Lands, Chris Teahan, Bobby Pettiford, Kyle Cuffe Jr., Michael Jankovich, Charlie McCarthy

F: David McCormack, Mitch Lightfoot, Cam Martin, Zach Clemence, KJ Adams Jr., Dillon Wilhite

Agbaji, Wilson, and Braun are arguably the best returning three-point shooters Kansas will have on the roster, however, their performance from the line last season dwindled prior to postseason play.

By the end of 2020, Agbaji was averaging 2.6 three-point makes per game. Both Wilson and Braun were finding around 1.5 perimeter buckets each by the end of the year, which wasn’t supporting the Jayhawks much by the end of the season.

While the three-point ball was showing gradual improvement during their short-lived Big 12 tourney play and the NCAA Tournament, it wasn’t enough to keep them steady.

Some new blood will be lending their support to Kansas this coming season, which should help Kansas’ percentage from the perimeter.

Remy Martin was the second-best three-point shooter at Arizona State and was averaging 2.0 shots per game behind the arc. In addition to Martin, experienced Iowa State transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands led the Cyclones with 2.5 three-point makes per game.

These two transfers will present Kansas with a pair of offensive weapons to exercise with and utilize when needed. Considering their floor time in the past, it shouldn’t be too long before they become fairly comfortable with this roster and start building some chemistry.

Adding some support from the line is a major booster for the Jayhawks, as it will help keep the offense in must-win games. The real challenge will be finding a groove, so those shots will fall when needed.

Kansas often failed to find consistency from the perimeter last season, an issue that plagued the team throughout January and will need to be avoided at all costs this coming season.