Kansas’ next exhibition already feels bigger than the usual preseason tune-up.
The Jayhawks opened their preseason schedule with a win over Pittsburg State during Late Night in the Phog, but that night came with a different setup than fans were used to. Instead of the traditional intrasquad scrimmage, Kansas played against an outside opponent.
It was a good first look at a new roster, but it still came against a Division II team. Wednesday’s matchup with Louisville should bring a different kind of energy to Allen Fieldhouse.
The Cardinals are expected to be a top-3 team in the ACC, and while the game will not count toward either team’s official record, Bill Self is expected to approach it with far more intensity than he did in Friday’s exhibition.
What gives this one extra edge is the return of Flory Bidunga.
One of Louisville’s biggest additions from the offseason is also a former Jayhawk, and his first trip back to Lawrence is likely to draw a strong reaction. Bidunga spent two years at Kansas before entering the transfer portal in April. He also explored turning pro and declared for the NBA Draft, but ultimately chose to stay in college and continue his career elsewhere.
The 6-foot-9 rim protector has already stacked up preseason recognition, landing on the Preseason All-ACC First Team and picking up the third-most votes for ACC Preseason Player of the Year. In his first full season as a starter at Kansas, the Congo native averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks.
His departure didn’t go over cleanly, either. Bidunga drew attention at the ACC Basketball Tipoff when he said he didn’t return to Kansas because he didn’t want to "waste a year" with the Jayhawks, a line many interpreted as a shot at his former coach and team.
I asked Louisville big man Flory Bidunga, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year last season, why he would transfer from Kansas to play for coach Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals in the ACC. His response: pic.twitter.com/kk5dhnq77w
There’s also the financial side of the move. Louisville is believed to have one of the biggest NIL collectives in the country, and some outlets have reported that Bidunga could have received as much as $5 million to play in Kentucky.
If his move had been about a bigger role, Kansas fans might have taken it differently. The money angle, though, changes the temperature.
Melvin Council Jr., one of Kansas’ standouts and a former teammate of Bidunga’s, isn’t brushing it off either. In a recent media appearance, he made it clear there’s no warm reunion waiting on the other side.
The last time Kansas played Louisville in an exhibition, the Jayhawks went into the KFC Yum! Center and came away with a 90-82 win. This year’s version figures to have the same kind of juice, if not more, thanks to the Bidunga storyline.
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The bigger picture is just as demanding, because Louisville is not easing into anything. The schedule is loaded with ranked opponents, which will quickly show whether this group can come together fast enough to compete at the level Kelsey is aiming for. For a team with Final Four ambitions, the first real test comes early, and it should say plenty about how far this rebuild can go. [Read more 🡒]