Kansas Basketball’s Offensive Efficiency Is a Real Cause for Concern

The Jayhawks haven't exactly been the pinnacle of offensive success in recent years, as the team finished just 25th in offensive efficiency in 2022-23, 59th in 2023-24, and 52nd in 2024-25. However, this unit could end up being worse than all of those groups if they continue at this pace.

Kansas has struggled to score without Peterson, even against lower-tier opponents. Last game against Princeton, the Jayhawks won by 19 but still shot just 47.2% from the field and 23.8% from 3-point range.

For reference, when Kansas defeated Duke in the sixth game of the season last year, KU still had a 119.0 offensive rating. At the time, that was the 11th-best mark in the country, which suggests that there will only be more issues down the stretch once conference play arrives.

Given that the Jayhawks have only faced one real opponent so far and three tune-up games, this year's number needs to rise quickly, especially against looming opponents like Duke and UConn.

There should be more cohesiveness and chemistry in the coming weeks once the team figures out its offensive identity. However, there were already big concerns heading into the season about who would take on responsibility behind Peterson in the offense, and that question has not been answered yet.

MORE: Darryn Peterson Can’t Do It Alone for Kansas Basketball Offense

Even when he returns from his hamstring injury , Bill Self cannot have him lead a one-man band and expect KU to be a successful team.

Kansas needs to make the most of its possessions on the offensive end and improve its efficiency, or it will continue to falter against more competitive opponents.