Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse had all the makings of a classic. Kansas, clinging to a 79-76 lead over top-ranked Arizona, needed one more stop to seal a statement win.
The Wildcats, not known for living behind the arc, weren’t going to launch a desperation three. This was going to come down to toughness in the paint - and that’s exactly where Flory Bidunga made his presence felt.
With 31.4 seconds on the clock, Arizona had the ball and a chance to tie. By 21 seconds, it was in the hands of Brayden Burries - the guy who’d been cooking all night.
Isolated at the top, Burries faced Bidunga, who was pulled out to the perimeter. Burries made his move, crossing over and blowing by the Kansas big man.
For a moment, it looked like Bidunga was beat.
But that’s where the sophomore’s motor kicked in. Bidunga recovered with speed, chased Burries into the lane, and at 19 seconds, met him at the rim with a thunderous block that sent the ball crashing to the hardwood.
Melvin Council Jr. scooped up the loose ball and was fouled in transition. Allen Fieldhouse erupted.
Bidunga, fists clenched and energy surging, sprinted up the floor - a moment that might just live in Kansas basketball lore.
“I low-key got beat,” Bidunga said with a grin. “He brought me left, crossed right.
But I’m quick enough to get back. Big block.”
Big block, indeed. It was his third of the night, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment. That swat helped Kansas stretch the lead to two possessions and ultimately close out a win that was historic for the program - their first-ever home victory over an AP No. 1 team in Allen Fieldhouse.
But Bidunga didn’t just show up on defense. He matched Council with a team-high 23 points, pulled down 10 boards, and shot a blistering 8-for-11 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. Efficiency, presence, and poise - this was a signature performance from the young center, one that felt like a turning point in his development.
After the final buzzer, head coach Bill Self stayed on the floor longer than usual, soaking in the moment. He looked out toward the crowd, pumping both fists, then turned back to embrace his players - including the one who had just delivered the game’s defining play.
“That’s three hugs,” Council joked, referencing previous postgame embraces from Self - one in Las Vegas, another after the Iowa State blowout, and now this.
Bidunga laughed it off. “He’s giving hugs now?
Yeah, we got to cut him off. That was strange.
I was like, ‘You’re giving hugs now, coach?’ I’ll take it.”
The sophomore called it his most physical game in a Kansas uniform, and Self didn’t hold back in his praise. Over KU’s current eight-game win streak, Bidunga has been a force. He’s averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and just one foul per game, all while shooting an eye-popping 79.2% from the floor.
“He’s gotten so much better,” Self said. “Offensively, he’s improved.
But it’s the defensive presence - even if he’s not blocking everything, teams know he’s there. That changes everything.”
And on Monday night, it changed the game. In a building where legends are made, Flory Bidunga carved out his moment - a game-saving block, a dominant two-way performance, and a win that echoes through Kansas basketball history.