KANSAS

What Bill Self Said About Flory Bidunga's Monster UCF Performance

The Jayhawks' freshman had a standout performance on Sunday, and his head coach was thoroughly impressed.
Mathey Gibson|
Dec 8, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

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Kansas Jayhawks

Flory Bidunga’s performance in the Kansas Jayhawks' win 99-48 over UCF turned heads, particularly from head coach Bill Self who couldn't hide his admiration for the freshman forward’s impact on the game.

“Yeah, he blocks the shot and outruns him to the ball and then crosses him up and punches it. Yeah, that was impressive,” Self said. “It’s so impressive.”

Bidunga finished the night with 12 points, five rebounds, and six blocks—one of the most complete performances from a Kansas player this season. His defensive presence altered shots and helped stifle the Knights' offense, while his offensive contributions gave the Jayhawks the momentum they needed to pull away.

Self also reflected on how the team as a whole improved, especially in comparison to their performance earlier in the week against West Virginia.

“We were so much better. But we can say, ‘Well, we’ve changed a lot since Tuesday.’ We haven’t changed anything—our mindset is better and our attitudes and our aggressiveness,” Self explained.

The head coach continued to stress the importance of maintaining this level of intensity.

"Hopefully we can somehow bottle this, because this is the way that we should look," Self said. "We’re not always going to play well, but that’s the way we should look from an intensity standpoint every night.”

Bidunga’s energy and performance were a clear example of the type of intensity Self hopes to see from his team consistently.

As Kansas looks to continue building momentum throughout the season, it’s clear that performances like Bidunga’s could be a big factor in their success.

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Mathey Gibson
MATHEY GIBSON

Mathey Gibson is the Managing Editor for the Kansas Jayhawks On SI. A graduate of the University of Alabama, he has extensive experience covering major college sports, including reporting on Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like Alabama Crimson Tide On SI, The Crimson White, and Tide Illustrated. Now focused on Kansas, Gibson has covered significant events such as the NCAA Tournament, College World Series, and the College Football Playoff, bringing a deep understanding of collegiate athletics to one of the nation’s premier programs.

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