KU coach Bill Self hopes 3-point shots continue to fall Friday vs. Manhattan College

Kansas’ 3-point shooting surfaced as a potential team weakness, to say the least, during the Jayhawks’ two exhibition basketball games.

KU went 3-of-12 from beyond the arc for 25% in an 82-75 loss to Illinois on Oct, 29 in Champaign, Illinois. The Jayhawks followed up with an even-worse 6-of-28 (21.4%) in a 73-55 victory over Fort Hays State on Nov. 1 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Not knowing what to expect in Monday’s regular-season opener against North Carolina Central, the Jayhawks made 13 of 23 threes for 56.5% in a 99-56 rout of the Eagles at Allen Fieldhouse.

“I think we are not as bad as we shot in those first two exhibition games and we are not as good as we shot it the last game,” KU coach Bill Self said, hoping the team continues its newfound accuracy from 3-point range during Friday’s nonconference clash against Manhattan College.

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse, with a livestream on Big 12 Now/ESPN+.

“I hope we can be in that 36% to 38% range as a team (for the season). If we can do that, we’d be in great shape,” Self added.

KU’s 9-of-40 3-point shooting during the two practice games calculated to a 22.5% mark.

“I think our top eight (players in rotation) were 12-of-20, that’s 60%,” Self said, correctly adding up the 3s vs. North Carolina Central.

Kevin McCullar was 4-of-7, Hunter Dickinson 3-of-3, Nick Timberlake 3-of-4 and Johnny Furphy 2-of-4, while Elmarko Jackson and Parker Braun were 0-for-1. KJ Adams and Dajuan Harris did not attempt any 3s.

Self noted that KU’s 3-point shooting in the exhibition season could have been even worse as Dickinson and Braun each banked in a 3. Also, McCullar went a combined 6-of-11 from beyond the arc meaning everybody else went 3-of-29.

“I’m pleased with Kevin not because he is making shots. He’s doing all the things that make him a good player,” Self said, pointing out McCullar dove for a loose ball with KU up 40 points in the second half against NCCU.

McCullar has played his usual solid defense and has accepted his role as starting combo guard as well as backup point guard.

“Elmarko (Jackson) will be a point guard but right now he’s a combo type guard to get him from thinking (so much),” Self said of the 6-foot-3 McDonald’s All-American who had eight points and five assists with one turnover against North Carolina Central.

“I think we’re probably better off playing Kevin there (at PG) right now. That’s the only reason,” Self added of giving Jackson fewer things to think about early in his frosh season.

Jackson did play some point guard in the blowout win against NCCU. He also started the game and took his first breather with 14:25 left in the half, KU up 17-7. Jackson in all played 21 minutes.

“We got off to a good start so I’d say I liked the starting lineup,” Self said.“I’m not sure the fifth starter had a ton to do with us getting off to a good start if Hunter makes his first seven shot (en route to 21 points). I’d anticipate us starting the same way (vs. Manhattan),” Self added of a lineup of Jackson, Harris, Adams, McCullar and Dickinson.

Dickinson, who scored KU’s first seven points, hit three 3s in the first 7:20 and helped KU build a 27-9 lead.

Timberlake, first off the bench, scored 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 20 minutes while freshman guard Johnny Furphy hit two 3s in four tries and scored six points in 17 minutes.

“I think Johnny is doing well. I don’t think he’s 100% healthy though,” Self said. Furphy missed a couple weeks of practice in the preseason because of shin splints. “He’s obviously got to get stronger. He’ a high school senior (who reclassified to Class of 2023) that left early. I think he’s doing well. He reminds me of Svi (Mykhailiuk, former Jayhawk now in NBA) in so many ways. I thought he did well the other night.”

Self has a good idea of what he’d like to see in Game Two of the regular season. The Jaspers of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference are 1-0 after Monday’s 61-59 win at Bryant College.

“Hopefully similar results as Game One,” Self said. “The same energy,” Self added.

“I felt the biggest difference in the exhibition games (loss to Illinois and 18-point win over Div. II Fort Hays State) and the other night wasn’t as much as we played better, but the energy and enthusiasm level was so much better.

“I think when that’s the case you perform better. I’d just like to see some more of the same, get as much momentum as we can get going into a pretty treacherous row of opponents,” he added.

KU will play Kentucky on Tuesday in the Champions Classic in Chicago then head to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational Nov. 20-22, where KU will meet Chaminade in the first round, then either UCLA or Marquette in a second game followed by a game against either Tennessee, Syracuse, Purdue or Gonzaga.

“I am more concerned about what we do,” Self said, as opposed to what kind of zone defenses the Jaspers may employ against the Jayhawks.

“We need to gradually get better. I’d say that if we were playing Kentucky or Manhattan. We’ve just got to get better.”

Manhattan is led by first-year coach John Gallagher. The Jaspers have 14 new players, three returnees from a 12-18 team.

“That was a good win they had at Bryant. Anytime you win on the road it’s a good win against a Div. I school especially at their level when they are rebuilding,” Self said.

KU will take on Kentucky at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Chicago. Michigan State will play Duke at 6 p.m., with the KU game to follow.