Kansas basketball: Hunter Dickinson embraces the hate, and it’s what the Jayhawks needed

Once a villain in the Big Ten with Michigan, it shouldn’t take long for Kansas basketball transfer Hunter Dickinson to become the most hated player in his new conference.

The deep-seated hatred for Hunter Dickinson is a sentiment shared widely throughout the B1G. Schools like Illinois, Michigan State, Maryland, and others hold a profound dislike for the most prized offseason acquisition for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Why do they detest Dickinson? Could it be because he calls the players on opposing teams scumbags, constantly badmouths his former school, and gets into everybody’s face on the court? All of those options seem like fair possibilities.

And now that he’s transferred to one of the NCAA’s most prestigious college basketball programs, those who didn’t like him then definitely won’t like him now.

When a guy like Dickinson is not on your team, you tend to root against him. His obnoxious persona turns people off, and we can’t blame them. But now that he’s a Jayhawk and can continue to embrace that villain role, the Kansas basketball fanbase wouldn’t have it any other way.

Kansas will never be hated as much as the Dukies, but programs below the level of the Jayhawks still view them in that tier. Now, Dickinson should establish KU as the most loathed team in America this upcoming season. The best part is that he is more than capable of putting his money where his mouth is.

If I’m being honest, I’m not sure if there has been a singular player in the Bill Self era who has been picked on as much as Dickinson has by those who root for Big Ten schools. I’ve seen some comments from them that I don’t even want to share that make me think, ‘Man, what did this guy do to these people?’

Sure, there are guys like Christian Braun, who had a fiery demeanor on the court and got disrespectful at times. But we’re talking about someone who could wind up on tomorrow’s front page after any game, whether it be due to a gesture he made or something ridiculous he said in postgame interviews. The hatred for him extends far beyond just basketball.

Not to knock any of our beloved former Jayhawks, but Dickinson brings something to the team that not many have before. You look at Ochai Agbaji, Dajuan Harris, Jalen Wilson. They were the most mild-mannered kids in the world, about as calm as a Division I basketball player can be. We’re talking about polar opposites here. Even if you don’t like it, you can’t deny that it brings an entirely new dynamic to watching the games.

Knowing fans of Big 12 schools, especially K-State, West Virginia, and Iowa State, they’re going to have a field day with Hunter Dickinson. Every single missed shot during a road game, they’ll chant at him, and they’ll boo him whenever he touches the ball. He’ll be the focal point anywhere he goes.

Watching the obscene celebrations and jawing between Dickinson and other players should be a treat for KU fans. He will make this team must-see TV even against lesser opponents.

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