With ESPN’s College GameDay rolling into Lawrence and Allen Fieldhouse bracing for one of its loudest days of the season, Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga is keeping his feet firmly on the ground-even as his name lands on the 2026 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
Bidunga has been a defensive anchor for the Jayhawks this season, helping Kansas lead the Big 12 in blocked shots. His rim protection has been elite, his timing sharp, and his presence in the paint undeniable. But ask him about the hype, and he’ll steer the conversation back to the team.
“I’m excited,” Bidunga said ahead of Saturday’s showdown with BYU. “I know the place is going to be really packed, full of energy, and that’s exciting for us. That just shows how much people here love basketball.”
And packed it will be. With GameDay in town and a top-tier Big 12 matchup on tap, Allen Fieldhouse is expected to be electric.
But Kansas head coach Bill Self is making sure the focus stays on the collective. This isn’t about one-on-one matchups, even with the spotlight on young stars like Darryn Peterson and BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa.
For Self and his squad, it’s Kansas vs. BYU-nothing more, nothing less.
“We play for Kansas. That’s what coach always says,” Bidunga echoed.
“We know it’s Kansas against BYU. It’s a team effort.
We all need to participate.”
That team-first mentality has been a hallmark of Kansas under Self, and Bidunga is fully bought in. Even with a brief lull in the schedule, the Jayhawks haven’t let up in preparation.
“It’s the same, just getting ready for the game,” Bidunga said. “We want to practice. I feel like we just need to practice as much as possible to be ready.”
Part of that preparation includes getting key players back to full strength-like sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson. After battling through injury earlier in the season, Jackson is starting to look more like himself again, and Bidunga has taken notice.
“Oh yeah, 100 percent. Great player,” Bidunga said.
“He’s growing, made some crucial plays. I feel like he still has more to show.”
Asked if Jackson is close to his pre-injury form, Bidunga didn’t hesitate: “100 percent. I think he’s getting there for sure.”
That’s good news for a Kansas team heading into a tough stretch of conference play. The Big 12 is as deep as ever, and BYU has quickly proven it belongs. The Cougars have caught Bidunga’s attention, especially with how they get out and run.
“They’re a great team, but again it’s Kansas against BYU,” he said. “We need a team effort to stop them, especially in transition.”
That includes slowing down Dybantsa, BYU’s freshman phenom who’s already made a name for himself as a dynamic scorer.
“Obviously, he’s a good player,” Bidunga said. “You just need to do your best, play great defense. Be focused and take it step by step.”
For all the accolades and national attention coming his way, Bidunga remains grounded. He knows there’s still work to do-still parts of his game that need polish.
“There are still a lot of areas I need to grow as a player,” he said. “I just keep stacking days and trying to get better.”
And he’s not the only one locked in. The Kansas faithful are showing their commitment in classic Jayhawk fashion-by camping outside Allen Fieldhouse days before tipoff.
“That was crazy,” Bidunga said with a smile. “Seeing how many people are camping really shows how committed they are to support us. I feel like we need to put on a show.”
If Bidunga and the Jayhawks keep playing the way they have, that show might just turn into something special.