When the 2025-26 basketball season officially tipped off, one thing that Bill Self mentioned was his desire for a team to grab loose balls and be more athletic when 50/50 opportunities came. Self felt that last season was a place where Kansas struggled mightily.
Last season, the Jayhawks managed 38.5 rebounds per game, which ranked 18th in the nation. Now, dependent on the coaching scheme, offensive and defensive rebounds matter varyingly, especially the former. So when you see that Self’s team ranked 172nd last season with 8.9 per game, of course, some of it is because most teams prioritize getting into defensive shape rather than over-committing and giving an easy transition opportunity.