Kansas has long been regarded as one of the greatest programs in college athletics. With a decorated hoops history and some absurd school records, you would think KU has already peaked in everything it could possibly accomplish in the basketball world. However, there is one area in which the 2025–26 Jayhawks are currently excelling at a higher level than any team in Kansas basketball history.
When taking a deep dive through history, it’s apparent that KU has almost always been elite, but it has never been a terrific free-throw shooting program. In fact, prior to this season, the best mark a Kansas team had ever posted from the charity stripe was 73.7%. This occurred during the 2012–13 season, when Ben McLemore led the Jayhawks by shooting 87.0% from the line.
So far this season, Kansas is shooting a program-best 76.2% as a team from the stripe. Though it’s the highest mark in KU history, it currently ranks second in the Big 12 and 49th in the country.
There have been multiple games this season in which Kansas has won at the line, as every roster member has found a way to knock down clutch free throws again and again. That trend held true once again Monday night against Arizona.
The major issue with the Jayhawks’ marvelous free-throw shooting is that they just don’t get to the line enough. KU is averaging just 19.8 free-throw attempts per game, which ranks 10th in the Big 12 and 227th in Division I.
Additionally, Kansas is making only 15.0 free throws per game, good for eighth in the Big 12 and 181st in the country. The Jayhawks must find ways to consistently draw more fouls and get to the line at a higher rate, because when they do, they’re cashing in and making their opponents pay.
In the win over Arizona, KU shot 21–25 from the line (84%). Shooting this effectively without Darryn Peterson —who accounts for 26% of Kansas' free throws when in the lineup—is an eye-opening stat that should concern the rest of the league.
Like many past Jayhawk teams, there is no poor free-throw shooter in Bill Self's day-to-day rotation. Big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller are both shooting just over 67% from the line this season and have been improving recently. Quite frankly, they have been the best free-throw shooting frontcourt duo of the Bill Self era.
If Kansas can maintain its sensational free-throw shooting and earn more trips to the line, it could provide a huge advantage in tight games down the stretch and into the postseason.
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