The Kansas Jayhawks are heating up at just the right time. Winners of six straight in Big 12 play and fresh off back-to-back wins over ranked opponents in BYU and Texas Tech, Bill Self’s squad is starting to look like the kind of team that can make serious noise come March. And while there’s plenty of credit to go around, one name keeps rising above the rest on the defensive end: Flory Bidunga.
The sophomore big man has been a force in the paint all season, but his recent stretch has elevated him into the national spotlight - and for good reason. After Kansas’ win over Texas Tech, a game where Bidunga anchored the defense and Darryn Peterson lit it up on the other end, Coach Self didn’t hold back. “Bidunga is the best defender in America,” he said - and frankly, the numbers back him up.
Against Texas Tech, Bidunga tallied two blocks, but that only tells part of the story. He altered countless other shots, patrolled the paint like a seasoned pro, and made life miserable for anyone who dared to challenge him at the rim.
That performance marked his 17th game this season with multiple blocks - a staggering stat. Even more impressive?
He’s logged seven games with four or more blocks and is currently averaging 2.67 blocks per game.
That mark puts him fifth in the entire country, ahead of towering Michigan center Aday Mara, who stands a full seven inches taller at 7'4". Bidunga, at 6'9", is proving that elite timing and instincts can be just as valuable as size - especially when you’re doing it in the Big 12, arguably the toughest conference in college basketball.
And that’s where things get even more impressive.
Bidunga’s dominance isn’t coming against mid-major competition. He’s doing this night in and night out against some of the best programs in the country. The Big 12 currently has at least six teams projected as No. 4 seeds or better in the NCAA Tournament, and while Kansas hasn’t yet faced Arizona or Houston, Bidunga has already shown out against three ranked conference foes.
Against Iowa State, he put up a defensive clinic with four blocks and two steals. Then came BYU and Texas Tech - two more ranked matchups, two more games with two blocks apiece.
Even in KU’s two conference losses - at West Virginia and at UCF - Bidunga still managed to swat four shots in each game. In other words, win or lose, he shows up.
Right now, Bidunga leads the Big 12 in total blocks with 58 - and it’s not even close. Nationally, he’s just three blocks shy of cracking the top three in total swats. With a matchup against a struggling Utah team coming up at Allen Fieldhouse, there’s a real chance he climbs even higher.
But the road gets tougher from there. After Utah, Kansas will host the No. 1-ranked Arizona Wildcats before heading to Ames for a rematch with Iowa State - a team they handled earlier this season, but one that will be hungry for payback on their home floor.
Still, with Bidunga locking down the paint and Peterson continuing to shine offensively, Kansas isn’t just riding momentum - they’re building something real. This team has the tools, the talent, and the toughness to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country. And if Bidunga keeps playing like the best defender in America, the Jayhawks might just be getting started.