Flory Bidunga said he tuned out profanity-laced chants from Kansas fans during Louisville’s exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday night, a return trip to the arena where he spent two seasons before transferring to Louisville. The Cardinals beat the Jayhawks 89-83, snapping Kansas’ 58-game homecourt exhibition win streak that dated to 1993.
Bidunga, who won Big 12 defensive player of the year at Kansas last season, finished with five points and one block in the win. Fans directed chants of profanity at him as he walked out for pregame warmups and continued into the early minutes of the game, according to ESPN.
Bidunga’s Response To The Kansas Fans Chants
Asked about the reception afterward, Bidunga brushed it off as part of the territory that comes with facing a former school.
“They’re rooting for Kansas. I understand. Fans are going to be fans.
They want Kansas to be great, so that means they’ll say whatever they have to,” Bidunga said, according to ESPN. “Well, y’all heard what they said, but I didn’t pay attention. We had a mission.
We came here. Y’all saw my teammates take care of the ball, take care of the game, so I’m really excited and proud of them.”
The chants grew loud enough that Kansas athletic director Travis Goff had the public address announcer ask students to stop, per ESPN. After the final buzzer, Bidunga waved and blew a kiss toward the section of fans who had booed him, according to the Kansas City Star.
What It Means For The Rivalry Atmosphere
Bidunga’s departure from Kansas set up a charged atmosphere the moment the exhibition schedule paired the two programs. He racked up 91 blocks and averaged 2.6 per game for the Jayhawks last season, numbers that made him a defensive anchor before he left for Louisville. That production is also why Kansas coach Bill Self said the frustration from fans made some sense, even as he drew a line at the profanity.
“I actually expected Flory to get booed. Anything beyond that is uncalled for, but I expected him to get booed,” Self said, according to the Kansas City Star. “And you know what?
When you transfer or I take another job or something and you go back to that place, that’s what happens. That’s the way it should be. That’s what creates interest.
Flory knows that. But anything beyond that, I don’t agree with at all, especially when he gave us two really good years and he was a terrific kid.”
Self added that the crowd reaction reflected Bidunga’s impact in Lawrence rather than indifference toward him. “If he wasn’t any good, nobody would care. People care.
So that’s part of it. But anything more than that, no, I wouldn’t appreciate it,” Self said.
Context Behind The Return
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey framed the night as an emotional one for his forward given his history at Kansas. “With Flory coming back, this place is very special to him. It was a difficult week for him because he knew what he was walking into,” Kelsey said, according to the Kansas City Star.
“A part of his heart is here and will always be here, and that made us better. I thought Flory handled it well. He knew what he was walking into, and I think he’s relieved to have it over with.”
The win also carried historical weight for Louisville. Kansas had not lost a homecourt exhibition since 1993, a streak that stretched 58 games before Wednesday’s result.
What’s Next
Both programs now shift toward the start of the regular season, with the exhibition serving as an early measuring stick ahead of official games. Louisville’s performance behind Bidunga’s teammates, who Bidunga credited for taking care of the ball throughout the contest, offers an early sign of the rotation Kelsey plans to lean on once the season tips off.
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