Will Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga play vs. Duke? Update on sprained ankle
Freshman men’s basketball forward Flory Bidunga, who sprained his ankle in the first half of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 84-66 home victory over UNC-Wilmington, should be available for Tuesday evening’s game against Duke in Las Vegas.
KU coach Bill Self made that prognostication Friday.
“I anticipate him being 100%,” Self said at a news conference held in advance of the Vegas Showdown contest, which is set for an 8 p.m. (Central Time) tipoff at T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas.
“I don’t see anything (that’d keep him out). He had his wisdom tooth extracted on Wednesday. He may not do contact today (at practice). He should be full go, no problems.”
Bidunga scored six points on 3-of-3 shooting and grabbed two rebounds while playing eight minutes before halftime against UNCW. But he landed awkwardly on his left ankle while guarding an entry pass midway through the first half.
Bidunga headed to the locker room to be examined, then returned to sit on the bench midway through the second half.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound native of Congo is averaging 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season. He has made 19 of 23 shots (82.6%) and 4 of 8 free throws. He has averaged 12.3 minutes in five games.
The No. 1-ranked Jayhawks (5-0) were planning fly to Las Vegas on Sunday, then practice Monday in preparation for Tuesday’s contest.
Meanwhile, No. 12 Duke (3-1) was scheduled to play No. 17 Arizona on Friday night in Arizona. The Blue Devils lost 77-72 to Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Nov. 12 in Atlanta. Duke also has defeated Wofford (86-35), Army West Point (100-58) and Maine (96-62) in games played at home in Durham, North Carolina.
The Blue Devils crushed Arizona State 103-47 in an exhibition game on Oct. 27.
“We haven’t started preparing for them yet,” Self said Friday. “We took Wednesday off, practiced yesterday, worked on our stuff. We’ll take Saturday off.”
Asked about the luxury of having several days of down-time between games while Duke will be coming off a tough Friday contest, Self noted that some Big 12 teams typically play a “Big Monday” game and then don’t play again until Saturday, when they face an opponent that played Wednesday.
