LAWRENCE
Flory Bidunga’s emergence as an impactful shot blocker has not gone unnoticed by his Kansas men’s basketball teammates.
“He’s huge guarding one through five. That’s kind of our secret weapon for us,” KU senior guard Tre White said after Bidunga swatted a career-best seven shots in Kansas’ 71-59 victory over Utah on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Bidunga, KU’s 6-foot-9 sophomore big man, also scored a team-leading 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting with 10 rebounds and three assists, coming mighty close to a triple double.
“I can’t even put it into words,” White, who scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, added of the comfort he feels knowing Bidunga awaits any player that might drive past him.
“I wouldn’t even call him a last line in defense because he’ll pick up and switch on the guards too. But it’s just good to know if I do get beat, they are going to get beat as well,” White added.
Bidunga of late has been able to block a lot of shots without fouling. He has committed just 10 fouls (two vs. Utah) in his last seven games while blocking 27 shots in that span.
Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) blocks the shot of Utah Utes guard Terrence Brown (2) in the first half on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Dominick Williams [email protected]
KU coach Bill Self has been pleased with Bidunga’s penchant for avoiding foul trouble of late.
“Guys are stubborn. Everybody thinks — we all do as humans — that we know more about what we should be doing than what somebody else is telling us to do,” Self said after his team improved to 18-5 overall and 8-2 in the Big 12 heading into Monday’s game against No. 1 Arizona.
“Flory was a gambler and now (after listening to coaches) he doesn’t lunge. He stays down. He plays to his length, and I think he’s figured out that way is far better for him and us. When before you tell a guy, ‘Hey, don’t go for the steal. Don’t do this. Just be sound,’ in their mind what they hear is, ‘Go for the steal.’ They don’t hear the ‘don’t.’ So he’s doing a much better job with that,” added Self.
After Monday’s win at Texas Tech, Self called Bidunga “the best defender in America.”
“It’s not just the seven blocks,” Self said. “It’s switching. How many times did their guards — No. 2 (Terrence Brown) or 3 (Don McHenry) — get off a 3 on him or whatever?”
Brown had 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting (0-2 from 3), while his backcourt partner, McHenry, went for 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting (3-of-9 from 3).
“Yes, he’s doing a good job,” Self stated of Bidunga. “Of course, it needs to be front and center obviously on Monday (8 p.m. tip vs. Arizona, ESPN). But yes, he’s doing great.”
Bidunga is enjoying his emergence as a defensive force.
“I want them to attack me … you feel me?” Bidunga said with a smile. “So I can prove how athletic I am. That’s the plan.
“As coach has been saying, I can impact the game even if I’m not scoring,” Bidunga added, “by me being athletic and moving around, creating stuff for my teammates.”
Bidunga said he’s learned “to jump second (after an opposing player goes up). I think that’s what I’ve tried to do all along. I feel like with my quickness it’s pretty easy to (swat shots).”
Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) stares down Utah Utes guard Terrence Brown (2) after blocking his shot in the second half on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Dominick Williams [email protected]
Asked by a media member what it feels like to forcibly reject a shot to the delight of the home crowd, Bidunga smiled and said: “Have you ever blocked a shot before? I can’t tell you. You know what I’m saying? You have to be a part of the club. But, I mean, it’s a great feeling.”
Utah, which fell to 9-14 overall and 1-9 in league play, felt the presence of Bidunga on a day the Utes hit 40% of their shots (5-of-18 from 3). KU shot 50% including 3-of-18 from 3.
“He’s a great rim protector,” said forward Keanu Dawes who scored 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting with 12 rebounds. He added that Bidunga is “underrated as a passer” as well.
Noted Utah coach Alex Jensen: “He doesn’t get the credit that he probably should. It’s been a problem for us since the (start of) Big 12. Nonconference we were able to challenge guys at the rim. We’ve gotten better at it, but we still try to do it. We go in there, get it blocked and we fall down. Then they are going the other way.”
KU had four players score in double figures. Bidunga had 17 points, while White had 16, Darryn Peterson 14 and Melvin Council Jr. 11 with six assists and five rebounds.
Council left the game for a spell in the first half after suffering a cut under his chin that required six stitches to close. Elmarko Jackson missed the game because of a knee bruise.
Peterson was able to play 34 minutes, suffering no cramps during the contest.
This story was originally published February 7, 2026 at 5:50 PM.
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Gary Bedore
The Kansas City Star
Gary Bedore covers KU basketball for The Kansas City Star. He has written about the Jayhawks since 1978 — during the Ted Owens, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Bill Self eras. He has won the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year award and KPA writing awards.
