Bill Self discusses the importance of Kansas' success at the free throw line

In their 10 games this season, Kansas is shooting 70.7% from the free throw line as a team. After they came in clutch again from the charity stripe last weekend, Bill Self was quite pleased with how his team handled the pressure.

Self commented on the Jayhawks’ free-throw shooting during his postgame press conference after the 73-64 win over Missouri on Saturday. He specifically highlighted their success in the final two and a half minutes that were big for them as they tried to hold the Tigers off and get the eventual victory.

“They were important because, you know, we’ve got six team fouls so the next three are going to be one and ones. We go six-for-six when they were in the double bonus quite a bit earlier,” said Self. “We shot our free throws well.”

“With the exception of just a couple of times, a couple of games, maybe a player or two getting off to a rough start? We’ve shot our free throws better – knock on wood,” Self said. “We certainly made big ones and tonight we made some big ones.”

On the season, Kansas, as a team, is 135-191 from the free throw line. Five players on the roster are shooting better than 70% when they get there. That includes Kevin McCullar (81.5%) and Elmarko Jackson (92%) as two of their top four players who have taken the most free throws this season.

In the final two and a half minutes against Mizzou, McCullar and Jackson along with DaJuan Harris and KJ Adams took eight free throws total. They combined to go seven of eight, with Jackson having the lone miss, right at double digits until the very end.

The easiest way to close things out is to take advantage of your gimmes at the foul line. That’s why Self is loving to see his team handle their business and knock them down as well as they have at the start of the season.

Self praises Dennis Gates for doing ‘fantastic’ job at Missouri

Bill Self heaped some praise on Missouri’s Dennis Gates following the Jayhawks’ 73-64 over the Tigers over the weekend.

According to Self, the difference between Missouri’s play this season as opposed to last season was noticeable. He wanted to make sure he pointed out the positive coaching adjustments he saw from the Tigers.

“Coaches can’t comment really on other coaches unless they’re there and they can watch. But, from the outside looking in? Oh, yeah, he’s doing a fantastic job,” Self said following Kansas’ victory. “Last year, when we played them at their place, they tried to take us out by pressing. This year, they pressured and didn’t press, which was a big difference. Last year, when you have shooters? You make the extra pass…We shot it unbelievably well last year over there. This year? Our team is different so the pressure was probably more effective than pressing because it didn’t allow us to get two-on-ones, three-on-twos, and things like that. So I think that was a very good adjustment.

“He’s a terrific coach,” said Self. “I mean they’ve done a great job in a short amount of time.”