After a disappointing showing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, head coach Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks are focusing more on depth, which has been an issue at times, in 2023. tried to improve.
As a result, the Jayhawks hit the transfer gate and hit the transfer gate big time, acquiring Alabama guard Rylen Griffen, South Dakota State guard Zeke Mayo, Wisconsin guard AJ Stoll, and Northern Illinois guard David. They acquired Coit to complement returning starters Hunter Dickinson, DaJuan Harris and K.J. Adams.
the goal? Create a strong rotation filled with both top-end talent and elite-level depth to become the top team in college basketball.
And it was a good strategy. Griffen was an elite scorer for a powerful Alabama team last year, shooting 39.2 percent from deep. He brought good wing size at 6 feet 6 inches and 190 pounds to complement some of the team's smaller guards.
Mayo, Stowe and Coit each averaged at least 16.8 points in their last destination and have shown a knack for putting the ball in the basket, despite some skill set differences.
But one element was missing from the equation. It's Dickinson's backup center.
Enter five-star freshman Flory Vidunga. He is the top-ranked center in the 2024 class and had offers from multiple blue blood schools before choosing Kansas State as his next destination.
Vidunga's role as a freshman wasn't expected to be much, as he was supposed to play behind a strong top-eight team that Kansas was targeting. But through the first four games against the Jayhawks, it's clear that Dickinson will be a key piece for Kansas as he plays 10-15 minutes a night as a pure energy player off the bench.
Last night, Florrie Vidunga had four dunks and four stockers in 17 minutes against Kansas. Made the hoop look 9 feet. A powerful and explosive jump. Roll off the screen quickly. Strong under the rim. I feel like I should be able to use my strengths to shoot over 70% from the floor this year. pic.twitter.com/cxRXB03LqZ
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) November 5, 2024
In just 13.5 minutes per game, Vidunga averaged 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and shot 80 percent from the field. He also found ways to contribute defensively, posting 1.3 blocks and 0.5 steals in those minutes. For reference, his numbers per 40 minutes would be 27 points, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals. Let's talk about activities.
Although the sample size was small, Vidunga quickly developed into a quality player, allowing head coach Bill Self to trust him in high-leverage minutes. In a major game against the UNC Tarheels, Dickinson sat on the bench longer than expected in the second half due to foul trouble, forcing the freshman to play in a close game against the top team in the country.
Vidunga gave Self eight points and eight rebounds in just 11 minutes, drawing just one foul and getting a block.
That confidence was built during the offseason, and Vidunga improved greatly during training camp, with his athleticism and physical skills constantly on display.
He was getting better every day.” I said it last month. “There are things you just can't teach. That motor, that foot speed, that second jump…he's a great fast-twitch athlete.”
Kansas has a legitimate threat to win this year's national championship after a disappointing showing in the second round a season ago. And this time it's all thanks to the elite depth, with Vidunga playing a key role behind a group of experienced starters.
