Flory Bidunga isn’t just figuring things out - he’s arriving. After a bit of a shaky start to his sophomore campaign, the 6-foot-10 big man has turned a corner, and he’s doing it in a way that’s hard to miss. Coming off a standout showing at the Players Era tournament, Bidunga earned a spot on the Big 12 Starting Five of the Week for the second time this season - and frankly, it’s hard to argue he didn’t earn every bit of it.
Let’s start with the numbers: 15.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on a scorching 62.8% shooting from the field. That’s not just efficient - that’s dominant.
He’s cleaning up around the rim, finishing with touch, and making defenses pay for giving him even a sliver of space. But the growth goes beyond the box score.
Earlier in the season, there were questions. Bidunga looked strong against mid-tier competition - 23 points against Green Bay, 25 against Princeton - but when Kansas faced UNC, he managed just 8 quiet points.
That raised some eyebrows. Could he do it against elite teams?
Turns out, yes. And then some.
The Champions Classic against Duke was a turning point. Bidunga looked poised and confident, putting up 14 points and six boards against one of the most physical frontcourts in the country.
He didn’t force it. He got to his spots, finished strong, and showed that he could be a reliable contributor even when the game tightened up.
Kansas didn’t get the win that night, but they may have found their second scoring option.
Since then, Bidunga has only ramped things up - and he’s doing it without Darryn Peterson, who’s been sidelined. That absence could’ve left a void, but instead, it opened the door for Bidunga to step into a larger role. And he’s made the most of it.
During Feast Week in Las Vegas, Bidunga was everywhere. He kicked things off with a monster game against Notre Dame: 18 points, nine rebounds, five blocks.
He even threw in a highlight-reel play - switching onto a guard at the top of the key, blocking the shot, then sprinting the floor for an and-one finish. That’s the kind of two-way motor that changes games.
Next up was Syracuse, and Bidunga didn’t let up. He posted a smooth double-double - 13 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks - and continued to show how comfortable he’s becoming in the post. The hook shot is falling, the dunks are coming in bunches, and his timing on defense is giving opposing bigs nightmares.
Then came Tennessee. Kansas trailed by 12 in the second half, and it looked like the Volunteers had the edge.
But the Jayhawks stormed back, and Bidunga was right in the middle of it. He added 13 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks - again showing that he’s not just producing, he’s doing it when it matters most.
What’s clear is this: Bidunga is evolving. He’s not just a physical presence anymore - he’s developing into a true two-way force.
Offensively, he’s giving Kansas a reliable interior option who can finish through contact and stretch defenses with his footwork and touch. Defensively, he’s altering shots, switching on the perimeter, and anchoring the paint like a veteran.
And now, with Peterson expected to return for Tuesday’s marquee matchup against UConn, Kansas suddenly looks deeper, more dangerous, and more balanced. What was once a concern - the lack of a second scorer - has become a strength. Bidunga didn’t just fill the gap; he’s made a case to be a consistent focal point of this offense moving forward.
The Jayhawks are battle-tested, and their sophomore big man is growing up fast. If this version of Flory Bidunga is here to stay, Kansas just became a whole lot tougher to beat.