The Kansas Jayhawks’ summer trip to Italy: 5 takeaways

2. The Jayhawks could unleash the 3-pointer even more this season

Last season, the Jayhawks’ roster took 35.9 percent of its total field goal attempts from behind the 3-point arc. That mark was by far the highest 3-point attempt rate for a Kansas team coached by Bill Self, but still only ranked in the middle of the pack in Division I, per KenPom. Now, if the Jayhawks’ trip to Italy is any guide, the team looks set to blow that 35.9 percent number out of the water in 2017-18.

In the four games the team played on the trip, Kansas attempted 39.6 percent of its total field goal attempts from behind the 3-point line. If that number holds during the regular season, it would be the third straight campaign under Self in which the Jayhawks set a new 3-point attempt rate record:

Teams across the college basketball landscape have increased their 3-point attempt rate in recent seasons as offensive strategy has evolved to recognize that the long ball is a more efficient shot than many other shots on the floor. For years, though, Self seemed to resist the outside pressure to re-orient his offense around 3-pointers, but the available evidence seems to suggest he’s warming up to the idea now.

This season, Self would be smart to let his guards unleash a barrage of 3s given their historical accuracy. Devonte’ Graham, Lagerald Vick and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk all made 37.0 percent or more of their triples last season while transfers Sam Cunliffe and Malik Newman both showed they have range on their jumpers at their previous schools.