Flory Bidunga didn’t just show up against No. 1 Arizona - he announced himself.
The 6-foot-10 Kansas sophomore has been trending upward all season, but his performance in this heavyweight matchup was something else entirely. Facing off against one of the nation’s most dominant frontcourts, Bidunga delivered the kind of statement game that turns heads on award ballots and sends a message to the rest of college basketball: he’s not just part of the conversation - he might be leading it.
Coming into the year, Bidunga was already known for his elite shot-blocking instincts, but his offensive leap has been just as impressive. He’s averaging nearly 10 more points per game than he did last season, and against Arizona, he looked like a complete two-way force. His matchup with Arizona’s Motijus Krivas - the 7-foot-2 junior widely considered the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year - was billed as must-see TV, and it delivered.
Midway through the game, with broadcasters singing Krivas’ praises, Bidunga delivered the play of the night: a thunderous dunk right over Krivas that sent Allen Fieldhouse into a frenzy. The timing couldn’t have been more poetic - a poster dunk on the supposed best defender in the country, just as his name was being hyped on the broadcast.
And that wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan moment. Bidunga backed it up with a full stat sheet and a major impact on both ends.
He finished with a team-high 23 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks - another double-double in what’s becoming a regular habit for him. Krivas, for his part, posted 14 points, 15 boards, and six blocks of his own, but Bidunga’s presence felt just a bit bigger, just a bit louder.
One of the game’s pivotal moments came late, when Bidunga swatted a shot from Arizona’s Brayden Burries, triggering a sequence that led to Krivas picking up his fourth foul and Kansas regaining possession. That stop helped turn the tide and set up Melvin Council Jr. for key free throws - a swing that underscored just how impactful Bidunga can be in crunch time.
Even Kansas head coach Bill Self couldn’t hold back after the final buzzer, giving Bidunga a rare postgame hug - a moment the big man later laughed about with reporters. “Coach doesn’t usually hand those out,” Bidunga joked, clearly enjoying the moment but staying grounded.
With Kansas now heading to Ames for a marquee weekend showdown against No. 5 Iowa State, Bidunga’s momentum couldn’t be stronger.
The Jayhawks are heating up, and their sophomore center is right at the heart of it. If this performance against Arizona is any indication, the Defensive Player of the Year race might need a serious update - because Flory Bidunga isn’t just defending at an elite level, he’s dominating.