On a group stuffed with expertise, Kansas freshman Flory Bidunga has emerged because the lacking piece

After a disappointing exit within the second spherical of the NCAA event final yr, head coach Invoice Self and the Kansas Jayhawks sought to enhance the group’s roster, with an added emphasis on depth, which had been a difficulty at occasions in 2023.

In consequence, the Jayhawks hit the switch portal and hit it exhausting, touchdown Alabama guard Rylen Griffen, South Dakota State guard Zeke Mayo, Wisconsin guard AJ Storr and Northern Illinois guard David Coit to enhance returning starters Hunter Dickinson, DaJuan Harris, and KJ Adams.

The objective? Create a robust rotation that was stuffed with each top-end expertise and elite-level depth to turn into the highest group in faculty basketball.

And it was an excellent technique. Griffen was an elite scorer for a robust Alabama group final yr, capturing 39.2 p.c from deep. He introduced good wing dimension at 6’6”, 190 kilos to enhance among the group’s smaller guards.

Mayo, Storr and Coit every averaged a minimum of 16.8 factors at their earlier locations, exhibiting a knack for placing the ball within the basket, whereas all having differing talent units to some extent.

Nevertheless, one piece was lacking from the equation: a backup middle for Dickinson.

Insert in five-star freshman Flory Bidunga, the top-ranked middle within the 2024 class who was extremely wanted by a number of blue-blood colleges earlier than selecting Kansas as his subsequent vacation spot.

As a freshman, Bidunga’s position wasn’t anticipated to be a serious one, as he was going to be taking part in behind the sturdy prime eight that Kansas appeared to acquire. However, by means of his first 4 video games with the Jayhawks, it’s clear that he’ll be a big issue for Kansas when spelling Dickinson for 10-Quarter-hour an evening as a pure power man off the bench.

In simply 13.5 minutes a contest, Bidunga has averaged 9.0 factors and 5.3 rebounds, capturing 80 p.c from the sector. He’s additionally discovered a method to be an element on the defensive finish, recording 1.3 blocks and 0.5 steals in these minutes as effectively. For reference, his per-40-minute numbers could be 27 factors, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks, and a pair of steals. Speak about exercise.

Whereas it’s been a small pattern dimension, Bidunga’s fast ascension into a high quality participant has allowed head coach Invoice Self to belief him in high-leverage minutes. In a serious recreation in opposition to the UNC Tar Heels, Dickinson was on the bench greater than anticipated within the second half with foul hassle, placing the freshmen into a detailed recreation in opposition to a prime group within the nation.

Bidunga rewarded Self with eight factors and eight rebounds in simply 11 minutes, whereas fouling solely as soon as and getting a block.

That belief was developed through the offseason, the place Bidunga was a giant riser throughout coaching camp, as his athleticism and bodily expertise have been continually on show.

He’s gotten higher on a regular basis,” Self stated final month. “There’s belongings you simply can’t train. That motor, quickness off his toes, that second bounce… He’s a terrific quick-twitch athlete.”

Kansas has a authentic risk to win the Nationwide Championship this yr after their disappointing end a season in the past within the second spherical. And this time, it’s due to their elite depth, which Bidunga has performed an important position in, behind a gaggle of skilled starters.