Why was Kansas so fired up against UCF? Jayhawks’ Dickinson offers this explanation
Kansas Jayhawks senior big man Hunter Dickinson noticed something odd floating down from the rafters of Addition Financial Arena, home of the UCF Knights, during KU’s basketball shootaround on Saturday night.
It was confetti, which reminded the 7-foot-2, 265-pound Virginia native of the celebration that ensued after the Knights’ 65-60 victory over the Jayhawks on Jan. 10, 2024 — a win that prompted a court-storm last season in Orlando.
“We saw confetti falling from the top. Apparently somebody was expecting another upset this year,” Dickinson said after the No. 7-ranked Jayhawks’ 99-48 victory over UCF on Sunday afternoon.
“We carried that in (into Sunday’s game), and we also carried in them telling us we had to go through a separate exit when we were leaving (the court) like they were preparing for another court storm. I felt guys took that to heart, realized how teams are looking at us.”
Added Dickinson, who scored 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting with nine rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes before a near-sellout crowd of 9,669: “We had to show everybody why we were preseason No. I team in country.”
UCF officials did explain the reason for the confetti at the Jayhawks’ Saturday shootaround. There was a celebration in the building on New Year’s Eve, with some strands apparently still stuck in the rafters — no disrespect to KU.
At any rate, the Jayhawks, thanks in part to five players scoring in double figures, did not incur the same fate they did a year ago at UCF.
The Jayhawks, in fact, on Sunday recorded the largest margin of victory by a road team in Big 12 Conference history.
Also ...
• The Jayhawks’ 51-point margin of victory was the school’s largest on the road against a Division I opponent. KU defeated Div. II Hawaii-Loa by 53 points in 1990 in Loa’s gym.
• KU’s 99 points were the second most scored by the Jayhawks in a Big 12 road game that ended in regulation. KU scored 102 versus Texas on Jan. 10, 1998 in Austin.
• KU’s 12 blocked shots were the school’s most in a Big 12 road game since Jan. 28, 2015 when KU had 12 rejections at TCU.
• Also, freshman Flory Bidunga’s six blocks (to go with 12 points and five boards) were most blocks by a Jayhawk freshman on the road since Nick Collison rejected six shots on Feb. 23, 2000 at Nebraska.
Dickinson scored 21 points the first half as KU blazed to a 44-25 advantage and put to rest thoughts of KU’s anemic 20-point first half in a 62-61 loss to West Virginia on New Year’s Eve in Lawrence.
“I looked myself in the mirror the last couple games and noticed that I wasn’t playing as hard as I needed to for the team and let the team down,” Dickinson said after KU improved to 10-3 (1-1 Big 12). UCF fell to 10-3 (1-1).
“Ever since warmups, ever since coming in the gym, I had a different mindset. I felt it would be one of those games,” Dickinson said. “We have struggled on the road in general (losing to Creighton and Missouri and also dropped the last two road games a year ago). This is a good start having a new year with new team. Guys showed up and played with a lot of heart tonight.”
There was one lineup change for KU Sunday in the wake of the Dec. 31 WVU loss.
Senior Shakille Moore started at guard next to Dajuan Harris, Zeke Mayo, Dickinson and KJ Adams and finished with six points, six assists, three rebounds and a steal in 20 minutes.
“I actually don’t see a difference (starting and coming off bench),” said Moore, the former Mississippi State guard who had come off the bench five games for KU so far in 2024-25.
“I’ve been around the block. It’s my fifth year. I know what to expect coming into the game. I’ve been at a school where I didn’t start. It doesn’t matter. You have to bring energy regardless, which I try to do.”
KU coach Bill Self said he “struggled” with coming up with a lineup in the wake of the WVU loss in Lawrence.
“Shak has not had a chance to play,” Self said of the player who has missed significant time because of a foot injury. “From a physical standpoint Shak mirrors Johnson (Darius, three points, 1-of-8 shooting). From a strength, speed standpoint I thought he was best he guard him. That allows Juan (Harris 11 points, two assists) to guard Jordan Ivy-Curry (five points, 1-of-5 shooting). We kind of got fortunate on that.
“Guys (like Moore) that play hard create havoc. We won’t always make shots. If the other team can’t score you are not going to lose. Shak gives us the best chance to have that mentality.
“We played with energy. Our missed shots were assists today.”
The Jayhawks outrebounded UCF, 63-32.
The 63 rebounds were most by KU in a game since March 24, 2002 vs. Oregon (63) and KU’s most ever in a Big 12 contest. It also was the second most rebounds by a Big 12 team on the road in a conference game.
Baylor once had 70 boards in a game.
“In the past we didn’t compete for rebounds, basically gave it to the other team. We rebounded great,” Self said.
Freshman forward Bidunga had a huge game and one of the most spectacular plays of this or any season.
First he solidly rejected Benny Williams’ 8-foot shot in the paint. Bidunga then chased down the basketball near midcourt, made a move to get around Williams and flushed the basketball to give KU a 72-38 lead at 8:45.
“He is so athletic and quick off his feet. That was probably as good an athletic play as anybody has made,” Self said.
KU will next meet Arizona State at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
