Kansas basketball: Gradey Dick must get back on course in the tournament

Kansas basketball

Not many negative things can be said about how Gradey Dick has handled his freshman season at Kansas. The former five-star recruit quickly made an impact when he arrived in Lawrence, recently racking up a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Freshman team. Still, there are several things that he has to improve upon heading into both the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament.

His struggles have led to him scoring just 10 points on 2-12 shooting in the most recent pair of contests. Even then, his three-point percentage sits above 40% for the season.

Kansas’ offense has been stagnant in the last two games, and Dick’s lack of production is one of the key reasons. He missed all seven shot attempts against Texas Tech and could not find the net until late in the second half in KU’s loss to Texas.

All game long, legendary commentator Dick Vitale begged Dick to stop being so passive and pull one from deep. He eventually knocked two down in the second half, though it was too late for the Jayhawks.

This alone is not concerning, but he is a volume shooter that often goes on dry spells. His jump shot is an essential part of his game, and he is the only player on the team who has an above average three-point shot.

When Dick’s shot is not falling, the Jayhawks offense becomes one-dimensional to dribble drives and isolation plays. As good as Jalen Wilson is with the ball in his hands, he is not someone who slips through screens and looks to shoot off the catch. Dick keeps the defenders moving on the floor, opening up opportunities for other KU players to score.

KJ Adams and other screeners must assist Dick in finding open shots throughout the game. That said, he must also be more aggressive with the ball in his hands and look to drive if opposing teams have him contained around the three-point line. A player with a frame as long as he should be able to finish through contact if needed.

It is the perfect time for Dick and his jump shot to catch on fire. He is the man who Bill Self will coordinate plays for in the latter stages of the game. His hot streak can begin in a few days when KU plays the 8/9 winner in the Big 12 tourney on Thursday.