Kansas is 2-0 to start the college basketball season, which was expected with Fordham and Middle Tennessee at the beginning of the schedule. While the Jayhawks look extremely strong with combined veteran and freshman play, there is a key area that looks to be a continued problem from last season.
Even though Kansas has a lot of dynamic scorers on the roster, three-point shooting looks like it could be a problem again this season. Tre White has been one of the only consistent shooters from beyond the arc for the Jayhawks, well, until Luke Barnett got his chance to shine late in the game.
Barnett came in as head coach Bill Self was getting his younger guys lower down in the rotation solid minutes on the court, and boy, did the freshman make his opportunity count. Just seconds after Barnett checked in, he hit a three-pointer, and then did it again. Oh, and then he did it one more time.
Luke is FEELING IT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wGuHenyybr
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) November 7, 2026
That's right, Barnett came in and hit three straight three-pointers, one of them from serious range, and the bench was going wild. This is a great sign from a freshman who has a lot of work to do in order to earn minutes, but with a performance like that, he just might have.
Luke Barnett clearly has a great three-point shot that could really help Kansas
Kansas shot just 7-for-19 from three-point range, and if you take away Barnett's three made shots, that would give the rest of the team just four three-pointers in the game, one being a heave at the end of the first half from White.
Three-point shooting hasn't been a strength for Kansas, but Barnett could help fix that for the Jayhawks. Granted, Barnett was facing a tired Middle Tennessee team later in the game, so the defense wasn't quite as strong, but coming out of high school, he was a shooting specialist.
Barnett has a quick release once he gets the ball in his hands off the pass, and his range is deep, as seen on his second three-pointer. Even with a hand in his face, Barnett isn't afraid to let the shot fly, and in a tight game where Kansas needs to make up ground fast, Barnett's shooting ability could come in handy.
While Barnett may not be the best ball-handler or defender, he can be the specialist Self needs, especially in tight games. The fact that Barnett came in against Middle Tennessee and immediately hit some clutch shots could prove to Self that he deserves more minutes and to be a little higher in the rotation.
Unfortunately for Barnett, he is sitting behind guys like Taylen Kinney, Tyran Stokes, Melvin Council Jr., Leroy Blyden Jr., and White, who all have great shooting ability. What sets Barnett apart is his three-point shooting ability, something all those guys except White have struggled with in the first two games this season.
Did Barnett earn more playing time with his three-point shooting against Middle Tennessee? That is a question that will only be answered as the season goes on.
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