How do you measure Flory Bidunga’s defense? Try this ridiculous KU basketball stat
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bidunga posted plus-31 impact; KU was outscored by 26 in his 13 minutes off.
- Bidunga finished 5-for-5, 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in 27 minutes.
- Coaches and teammates cite Bidunga as elite defender who guards all five spots.
Sometimes it’s hard to measure the impact a player has on a game.
That wasn’t the case Thursday night in Kansas City. For Kansas basketball big man Flory Bidunga, a singular stat told the story of KU’s gritty win over TCU in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals.
The Jayhawks won 78-73 at T-Mobile Center largely thanks to Bidunga’s play.
And take this into perspective:
KU outscored the Horned Frogs by 31 points when Bidunga was in the game, which means they were outscored by 26 in the 13 minutes he sat.
The next-best KU player (Darryn Peterson) was plus-10. Bidunga’s direct replacement was minus-11, including some minutes the two played together, according to the Big 12’s stat log.
“He’s plus-31 in a close game,” KU coach Bill Self said. “And when he came out, we just weren’t as good, bottom line. To me, you know, he’s the best defender in the league. To me, he’s the best defender in the country.”
Bidunga was recently named Big 12 defensive player of the year.
“I don’t know that he really had a chance to play to that tonight as much because it’s hard playing to that whenever you have two fouls with 12 minutes left in the (first) half or whatever,” Self continued. “But yeah, I thought he was good.”
Bidunga only played 27 minutes due to foul trouble, but he finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
His defensive impact was felt both on the perimeter and in the paint. The Horned Frogs scored only 28 paint points and went 6-for-17 on layups.
Beyond that, Bidunga directed his teammates to their spots at all positions on defense, all while covering plenty of ground himself on a court that may not have provided the best footing.
(The Big 12 is scrapping the LED glass court after player and coach complaints, though Self said he was not consulted about the final call.)
“He is defensive player of the year for a reason,” said KU forward Bryson Tiller. “We trust in him and he can guard all five positions. It’s definitely a blessing to be able to play with him, and I feel like we always have each other’s back on the court.”
As a whole, TCU shot 39.1% from the floor. On a night when every possession mattered, Bidunga’s play on both ends was massive.
In addition to his defense, Bidunga scored 13 points without missing a shot. He went 5-for-5 from the field.
KU, overall, shot 37.9%.
But Bidunga’s calling card is defense, and his teammates know it unlocks another part of this Jayhawks team.
“The best defender in the country,” KU guard Tre White said. “He will switch out on a point guard and go guard the five man, get the block and bring it down. He’s what we need for our team. I don’t even know how to put into words how he played.”
