Completed Event: Men's Basketball at West Virginia on January 10, 2026 , Loss , 75, to, 86
Final
Men's Basketball
75
at West Virginia
86
Bidunga on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
1/29/2026 11:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA – Kansas sophomore forward Flory Bidunga has been named to the 2026 Naismith Men's College Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff announced today. He is one of 25 players nationally to be named to the list.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year started in 2018 and Bidunga is vying to become the second player from Kansas to win the honor, joining Marcus Garrett who won the award in 2020.
A rim protecter from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bidunga leads the Big 12 in blocked shots per game at 2.7, which ranks fifth nationally. He also leads in overall blocks with 54, which is seventh nationally. Bidunga leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 66.7%, which is sixth nationally. He has seven double-doubles this season, including two in his last three outings. Bidunga had 21 points and 10 rebounds last time out at Kansas State.
At 14.4 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocked shots per game, Bidunga is the only player in NCAA Division I to average more than 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game.
Only a sophomore, Bidunga has 108 career blocked shots and in 52 games he reached 100 blocks faster than any player in Kansas history. His 108 blocks rank 19th on the KU career list. (The NCAA started recognizing blocks in 1974-75).
Bidunga moved to the United States his sophomore year in high school and played prep basketball at Kokomo High School in Indiana, where he was a 2024 McDonald's All-American.
No. 14 Kansas (15-5, 5-2) will host No. 13 BYU (17-3, 5-2) on Saturday, Jan. 31. The contest will tip from Allen Fieldhouse at 3:30 p.m. Central and will be televised on ESPN. Earlier that day, Allen Fieldhouse will host ESPN College GameDay from 10-11 a.m.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year started in 2018 and Bidunga is vying to become the second player from Kansas to win the honor, joining Marcus Garrett who won the award in 2020.
A rim protecter from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bidunga leads the Big 12 in blocked shots per game at 2.7, which ranks fifth nationally. He also leads in overall blocks with 54, which is seventh nationally. Bidunga leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 66.7%, which is sixth nationally. He has seven double-doubles this season, including two in his last three outings. Bidunga had 21 points and 10 rebounds last time out at Kansas State.
At 14.4 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocked shots per game, Bidunga is the only player in NCAA Division I to average more than 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game.
Only a sophomore, Bidunga has 108 career blocked shots and in 52 games he reached 100 blocks faster than any player in Kansas history. His 108 blocks rank 19th on the KU career list. (The NCAA started recognizing blocks in 1974-75).
Bidunga moved to the United States his sophomore year in high school and played prep basketball at Kokomo High School in Indiana, where he was a 2024 McDonald's All-American.
No. 14 Kansas (15-5, 5-2) will host No. 13 BYU (17-3, 5-2) on Saturday, Jan. 31. The contest will tip from Allen Fieldhouse at 3:30 p.m. Central and will be televised on ESPN. Earlier that day, Allen Fieldhouse will host ESPN College GameDay from 10-11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
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