Bill Self praises Flory Bidunga's defensive dominance and emergence. Discover the standout center's journey and conference accolades.
Kansas head coach Bill Self said he was thrilled to see sophomore center Flory Bidunga recognized Monday when the Big 12 Conference announced its postseason awards.
Bidunga earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team honors after anchoring one of the league’s top defenses. The 6-foot-10 center led the conference with 2.7 blocks per game and ranks second nationally with 84 total blocks.
Self said the biggest improvement in Bidunga’s game this season has been his discipline on the defensive end.
“The biggest step he’s taken is staying disciplined and understanding to play to his length rather than gamble,” Self said. “He’s done a much better job with that.”
Kansas held opponents to just 38.7% shooting from the field this season, the best mark in the Big 12, with Bidunga protecting the rim as the centerpiece of the Jayhawks’ defense.
Bidunga was also the only unanimous selection to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. In 18 conference games, the Kinshasa, Congo native averaged 13.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks while shooting 66.2% from the field.
After playing a more limited role as a freshman behind Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams, Bidunga has emerged as one of the nation’s most impactful interior players. His breakout season also landed him among the 10 finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which honors the top center in college basketball.
Self acknowledged the speculation about Bidunga’s future, but said postseason awards won’t determine what comes next.
“Yeah, I’ve given it some thought. There’s stuff out there that says this could be his last game here. He could go pro,” Self said. “But everybody has an agent. Agents are always putting feelers out there — sometimes to get a better deal where you’re at. A lot of stuff takes place without players even knowing about it.”
Self added that while awards may not affect NBA decisions, Bidunga’s impact on the court is undeniable.
“And postseason awards don’t really affect the NBA draft. NBA teams know what they’re looking for,” Self said. “But I’m certainly fired up Flory received the recognition because I think he’s the most versatile and best defender in our league.”
Bidunga wasn’t the only Jayhawk honored. Senior guard Melvin Council Jr. was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, while freshman guard Darryn Peterson earned All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors.
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