The talk of the Kansas college basketball world has and will ultimately be pinned on freshman Darryn Peterson for the coming season. Peterson deserves all the plaudits and expectations that will inevitably fall his way. Every No.1 player in the nation will get the same “superstar” level expectations. Yet CBS Sports has been able to temporarily turn Kansas fans’ heads in a different direction, with its “Ranking college basketball's best defenders by position: Top shot-blockers, wing-stoppers and shutdown closers” article, done by Isaac Trotter.
Trotter breaks this lengthy article into six subsections, the one most prevalent today, Elite Rim Protectors.
“Elite rim protectors: This one is self-explanatory. These guys send shots into the fourth row and change the complexion of the game. The best ones have scheme versatility and have excellent measurables.”
For Jayhawk fans, this should bring up one name in contention for this award. Flory Bidunga.
“Bidunga is on the verge of a breakout season. The sophomore big man changed the complexion of Kansas' defense dramatically in Year 1. Top-100 teams shot just 50% at the rim against KU when Bidunga was on the floor. When he sat, Kansas' defense allowed way more shots at the rim and couldn't stop the avalanche of rim pressure as well (62%). Bidunga has ridiculous physical tools to make up for anyone else's mistakes. Bidunga will give Tugler a real run for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.”
Kansas athletics lists Bidunga at 6-foot-9, and to back Trotter’s points, there were standout performances that pushed Bidunga to third on the elite rim protectors list. None probably more dominant than when Bidunga compiled six blocks against UCF in January of 2025, when Kansas dismantled the Golden Knights in a 99-48 Jayhawk victory.
Last season, Bidunga totaled 200 points across the season with a season-high 19 against Houston in late January when Houston took down the Jayhawks in a 92-86 loss to the eventual national runners-up.
The first chance to see Bidunga is on November 3rd when Kansas takes on Green Bay at Allen Fieldhouse.