Forward Bryson Tiller was put between a rock and a hard place when he joined the Jayhawks. After having to redshirt his freshman season, combined with the loaded class that Kansas enlisted, it would have been easy for the former OTE star to take a backseat role.
However, the wiry 6-foot-11 Tiller has thrived in his first season under Bill Self and has quickly become one of the most consistent players that the Jayhawks have to offer.
After a hot-start through the first 13 games, where Tiller notched seven games of 10+ points, Kansas sat at a 10-3 record. Now, while his point total slowly began to take a hit, his game became a lot more physical.
“I thought Bryson, early in the season, against [North] Carolina, he was so good, but he was an outside-in guy,” quoted head coach Bill Self earlier Thursday.
“And I think, even though he's still skilled, I think he's understanding more and more, where his bread is buttered. And that's, he's an inside-out guy that's skilled, as opposed to a perimeter player that's got a little bit of power.”
“[He] has improved as much as anybody”
Tiller’s 7-foot-3 wingspan screams inside threat, yet, before his improved physicality around the basket, his profile easily could have left him outside the pain but likely still inside the arc, an odd place for someone of his height to fill.
Yet, thanks to this recent initiative to square up down low, the Georgia native looks a lot more at home, with an impressive 18 points in Kansas’ 82-78 win over No. 1 Arizona on Monday.
“I'm really proud of him. I think he's probably everybody talks about Flory’s improvement, which has been tremendous. Bryson, from the start of the season, has improved as much as anybody.”
Tiller’s room for growth
Of course, this only being Tiller’s first year on the court, there have been peaks and valleys and will continue to be, especially on the box score. For example, when Kansas beat No. 13 BYU, Tiller dominated with 21 points, on an 8-13 mark from the field with seven rebounds to follow suit. Yet days later, when the Jayhawks traveled to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Tiller slumped to a 1-6 from the field with 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, two steals, and four turnovers.
Overall, Tiller has averaged nine points, six rebounds, 1.4 blocks, one assist, and 2.7 turnovers per game, on a 47.6% rate from the field.
Make sure to bookmark Through the Phog and follow us on X and Facebook with the username @Throughthephog