Sophomore Flory Bidunga is a shining example of what waiting for your moment can turn into. After averaging just about 16.5 minutes per game last season, Bidunga took advantage of every lesson he could and has turned into a rising star that should, without a doubt, be a draft pick by the time he decides to leave the Jayhawks.
This season, Bidunga is currently averaging 14.7 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks, on about 30 minutes a game with a strong 62.3% field goal rate.
Bidunga has rarely failed to impress this season. Bidunga has already compiled two 20+ point games and 11 games with 10+ points. Bidunga’s rebounding prowess has seen Bidunga notch five double-doubles.
It is hard to find much fault in Bidunga’s game without being unrealistic. He typically finds ways to get points at will. His paint presence will sway most from thinking about a drive to the rim, and he finds a way to consistently get rebounds.
The only thing you could likely pick on Bidunga is foul trouble. No, Bidunga has not fouled out, but there have been occasions where, without timely substitutions, those chances would have exponentially shot up.
In two of Kansas’ biggest games this season, a 78-66 loss to No. 5 Duke and a 61-56 loss to the No. 5 UConn Huskies, Bidunga finished with four fouls and had to have his rhythm disrupted consistently.
Now, of course, you can not say that what is called a foul in one game will be called one in another, and that is true. Yet, is it a coincidence that probably the two strongest teams Kansas has faced this season have stifled Bidunga?
As the Big 12 shapes up, this will be an interesting development to keep note of. Kansas’ first conference game takes place against the UCF Golden Knights on January 3rd, with tipoff set for 1 p.m CT and streaming available on Peacock.
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