Bill Self, the head coach of KU, had plenty to say on Tuesday, diving into a range of topics that are on every Jayhawk fan's mind as we head into the postseason.
First up, Self didn't mince words when discussing Tre White's absence from the All Big 12 teams. Both Melvin Council Jr. and Flory Bidunga felt the same way, chatting about the snub as they reviewed the conference awards together.
White has been a crucial part of KU's lineup, stepping up as a scorer when Darryn Peterson was sidelined and continuing to deliver even when Peterson returned. His 14.3 points per game placed him 23rd in the conference, and his 54 made 3-pointers were good for 19th.
But White wasn't just a scoring machine; his 6.9 rebounds per game ranked 11th in the conference.
To put it in perspective, only a few players, including JT Toppin, Joshua Jefferson, AJ Dybantsa, and Flory Bidunga, matched White's dual threat in scoring and rebounding. Yet, as Self pointed out, White didn't even get an honorable mention.
"There had to be one coach in our league who thinks that he was a top 20 player in our league? And it's disappointing to me that nobody did," Self remarked, clearly frustrated by the oversight.
Turning the spotlight to Flory Bidunga, the sophomore standout just added Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year to his resume. He also earned a spot on the First Team All Big 12 and was a unanimous choice for the All Big 12 defensive team.
Averaging 13.8 points on an impressive 64.4% shooting, Bidunga is the only Division I player to average over 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Self has been singing his praises, labeling Bidunga as the best defensive player in the country this season, thanks to his versatility and consistency.
But the big question looming is whether Bidunga will test the NBA Draft waters after the season. There's been buzz about his agent exploring options, possibly even considering a transfer for better offers.
Self addressed these rumors, noting, "There are things out there that I have heard, based on some reports that, this could be his last game here, or whatever. Yeah, it could be.
He could go pro. But I'm not concerned about anything else."
As the postseason kicks off, KU is gearing up for the Big 12 Tournament, with their first game set for Thursday night. The Jayhawks are eyeing a strong performance to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding, entering as a projected No. 4 or No. 5 seed.
For Self, this marks his 23rd postseason as KU's head coach, and his excitement is palpable. "March is the best time of year for me," he shared.
"It's the most fun time."
With the stakes high and the excitement building, KU fans have plenty to look forward to as the Jayhawks aim to make their mark in the postseason.