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Bidunga

It is hard to project the roster. If it includes Devries, Enright, Conwell, and potentially Goode, then a Bidunga type athlete masks some of their deficiencies on D. He does not need to be Broome on offense, just an athlete who crashes on the boards and is a rim protector. I guess the question is what does that cost? If you want a title, it can not have all Jimmy Chitwoods. Need a couple athletes to compete w SEC brand. If not, we are Purdue. Devries is smarter than all of us.... he hopefully pieces it together.
 
DeVries is shooting for the moon hope we don't strike out.. Between Archie and Woodson were like 5-100 getting top players here.
 
For what it’s worth, I know more than a few KU fans and they had their pitchforks out all season over Dickinson playing in front of Flory.

They’re not happy that he’s in the portal.
I know a KU fan and he is of the same opinion. Once again, Dickenson is the worst teammate you'd ever want and terrible for overall play. Now that he is gone, Self can be Bill Self again. Id bet on it.
 
Bidunga reminds me of Geronimo. Rebounder, shot blocker and high impact around the rim. He has length, athleticism and quickness. His basketball skills are limited. Not his fault, as he's only played the game for a few years. All the stars in the world won't give him more experience. I think there are more complete interior players available, where lots of minutes per game are concerned. I do like him as a role player. I think that's what he is.
 
Added Jayhawks coach Bill Self: "He's got to develop some consistent offensive ways that he can score more points. Right now, he's a rim runner. Obviously, a lob threat. Scores off of putbacks and in transition. He's got to get to where he's a better back-to-the-basket scorer, a better face-up scorer."

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Kokomo's Flory Bidunga (40) goes up for a layup against Lafayette Jeff's Owen Linder (10) during the second quarter of an IHSAA boys basketball regional championship game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Logansport


Kokomo's Flory Bidunga (40) goes up for a shot above Kokomo's Deundre Kirby (23) and Lafayette Jeff's Javan Buchanan (22) during the fourth quarter of an IHSAA boys basketball regional championship game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Logansport


Self described a role player.....imo. While there is upside....there's also an uphill climb to develop those offensive skills he's referring to.


































































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As a player…I’d prefer we got a big that was well rounded, offensively, that was great defensively. But it does depend on the rest of the roster and team around him. Maluach for Duke is a tad bigger and better version of Flory…and he’s the perfect compliment to the rest of their lineup, without really having a ton of offensive skill. The problem with a big like Flory comes when you put others on the floor with him that are limited offensively.

Flory could end up being a great pickup, a perfect compliment to a main rotation with guys like DeVries and Conwell. But start putting a guy or two like Enright in the main rotation as well, and his value lessens.

Money wise… depends on if there actually is a limit to the NIL, and how much of that limit he takes up. I kinda doubt there’s much of a limit, at this point. All the numbers are projections. And we have billionaires who are invested fans that very well could be tapped for more money multiple times as guys like Flory come up as possibilities. Thats my guess anyway.
 
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I agree with all the comments about Bidunga’s limitations, and thought so even before he entered the portal. My initial and ultimately lasting impression is that he is not worth the fuss. Bidunga is not the big recruiting miss that his reputation suggests. Mind you, he is not Xavier Booker or Jalen Washington-level bad, but if some school is willing to make a major commitment to him, let it be some other school.
 
I think if you thought you could have Bidunga for at least 2 years, you would make a substantial offer to him. But given his offensive limitations and the work required to mitigate them, I’m lukewarm about having him for 1 year.
 
Uhhhh.....have you seen our current lineup? Take him. This is not the IU teams of the 70's and 80's. Recruits are not lining up to come here. Spend the NIL money as best you can but this will probably be a 3 or 4 year rebuild.
 
Won't take our coach long to be rolling. A season or two of some success and elite recruits will have all the trust they need to go along with the offered cash.

Maybe he'll be a notch or two down from what he will be able to do, at first, but I'll bet he'll have a solid team.

As someone said, Bidunga may be best if you can lock him up for a couple years. Since he is raw. I'd still like him for even one year. (But it isn't my money.)
,
 
Uhhhh.....have you seen our current lineup? Take him. This is not the IU teams of the 70's and 80's. Recruits are not lining up to come here. Spend the NIL money as best you can but this will probably be a 3 or 4 year rebuild.
If were rebuilding the program for 3 or 4 years were done. There are thousands or portal players not to mention his son will be on the team plus Sisley and Goode most likely.
 
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Bidunga reminds me of Geronimo. Rebounder, shot blocker and high impact around the rim. He has length, athleticism and quickness. His basketball skills are limited. Not his fault, as he's only played the game for a few years. All the stars in the world won't give him more experience. I think there are more complete interior players available, where lots of minutes per game are concerned. I do like him as a role player. I think that's what he is.
In the CDD offense the center does not need to be a big score. Rim protector, rebounder and set quality screens, that would work in that system. Any points are a bonus.
 
As we talk about Bigs past, present, and future, it is clear to me what a unicorn and special player we had in Ware.


If he or the system could have been better in the games against Edey and Clingon, Ware would be remembered as even more of a game changer for IU.
 
As we talk about Bigs past, present, and future, it is clear to me what a unicorn and special player we had in Ware.


If he or the system could have been better in the games against Edey and Clingon, Ware would be remembered as even more of a game changer for IU.
Ware in this years WVU system would be a game changer. True 5 out big. Could guard 3 spots.
 
Those 3 would be an outstanding beginning along with Devries, Sisley, and Goode.
Don't forget about Enwright, that sounds like the most likely of all portal guys to me right now. Won't be surprised if he ends up at Iowa, but I think it's obvious CDD thinks highly of him. Nothing wrong with a PG that has great assist #s and can make 3s and FTs.
 
In his system this year. If you get a skilled big the system is even better. Goes from 4 out to 5 out. Florida has those skilled bigs.
Yep, why I thought Freeman might be such a good fit. Then it would allow you to get a true rim protector/rebounder who might not command as much NIL $. It's essentially what Bidunga would be, but he's going to be high $$ I assume.
 
Don't forget about Enwright, that sounds like the most likely of all portal guys to me right now. Won't be surprised if he ends up at Iowa, but I think it's obvious CDD thinks highly of him. Nothing wrong with a PG that has great assist #s and can make 3s and FTs.
Conwell, visiting IU today, with a "do not contact" tag...seems like a likelier bet for IU at this point...no?
 
Conwell, visiting IU today, with a "do not contact" tag...seems like a likelier bet for IU at this point...no?
I think the 2 of them are close to locks, but you're right. I guess I can see Iowa overpaying for Enwright and us seeing him primarily as a bench player. Still think our NIL offer for him as a bench guy would be close to Iowa as a starter. Both are going to need more guys around him.
 
I see Bidunga as a role player who will get 2-5 minutes per game. As mentioned...he is not a complete player offensively. He is a role player, mostly on defense. He has quickness and hops for sure. But so do a bunch of interior players who can shoot the ball from 15 feet out regularly. Is there room on the roster for him? Sure....but not as an alternative to an interior player who can shoot the ball inside or out.
2-5 mpg? WTF?

His per 40 defensive numbers were off the chart last year and he shot 70% from the field. 6 and 5 in 16 minutes is extremely good. Bidunga would be a walking double-double here playing 20+ minutes assuming he's surrounded by guys like DeVries, Conwell, Dix etc.
 
Added Jayhawks coach Bill Self: "He's got to develop some consistent offensive ways that he can score more points. Right now, he's a rim runner. Obviously, a lob threat. Scores off of putbacks and in transition. He's got to get to where he's a better back-to-the-basket scorer, a better face-up scorer."

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Kokomo's Flory Bidunga (40) goes up for a layup against Lafayette Jeff's Owen Linder (10) during the second quarter of an IHSAA boys basketball regional championship game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Logansport's Flory Bidunga (40) goes up for a layup against Lafayette Jeff's Owen Linder (10) during the second quarter of an IHSAA boys basketball regional championship game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Logansport


Kokomo's Flory Bidunga (40) goes up for a shot above Kokomo's Deundre Kirby (23) and Lafayette Jeff's Javan Buchanan (22) during the fourth quarter of an IHSAA boys basketball regional championship game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Logansport's Flory Bidunga (40) goes up for a shot above Kokomo's Deundre Kirby (23) and Lafayette Jeff's Javan Buchanan (22) during the fourth quarter of an IHSAA boys basketball regional championship game, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Logansport


Self described a role player.....imo. While there is upside....there's also an uphill climb to develop those offensive skills he's referring to.


































































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How much offensive skill do you need in a 4 in 1 out system? Should be good for 2-3 lob dunks a game, a couple putbacks, etc. He shot 70% from the field last year. Don't need an ultra-skilled 5 if you surround him with shooters and scorers.
 
In his system this year. If you get a skilled big the system is even better. Goes from 4 out to 5 out. Florida has those skilled bigs.
Speaking specifically to Flory... IF, IF... we get Conwell and Dix to go with DeVries...then I think having someone like Flory is almost necessary...mainly for defensive purposes. Gotta have a backline protector with Dix and DeVries playing big minutes. Neither of them are lock down defenders.

The question becomes...could Coach DeVries find a less expensive version of Flory, and allocate more of the NIL war chest for more/better guards? (I personally think this is kinda Straw man...as I think signing Flory wouldn't have any impact on signing other high level players)

It sure seems like the following are very real possibilities:

DeVries
Conwell
Dix (played AAU with Tucker)
Enright
Flory
Sisley

If that's true...what else do we need? I say as many athletic 3, D, and ball handling guards as you can find, and another big man.
 
Flory could end up being a great pickup, a perfect compliment to a main rotation with guys like DeVries and Conwell. But start putting a guy or two like Enright in the main rotation as well, and his value lessens.
If you start Conwell, Dix, and DeVries 2-4 next year...Enright and Bidunga are two perfect compliments.
 
If you start Conwell, Dix, and DeVries 2-4 next year...Enright and Bidunga are two perfect compliments.
No clue what Enright's plans or thought process are, but I think he'd be an ideal "6th man"...energy, bursts of offense, solid ball handler... I'd prefer to use the massive IU resources to get an All B10 level lead guard alongside Conwell... Easier said than done, but there are a TON of Mid major POTY/ALL Conference level guards in the portal.

I know it seems preposterous to desire rosters like Auburn, Florida, Houston, etc... But its not like any of those teams were built over time and developed. And we have the money, and "situation", to duplicate what they've done. And having Enright as your starting PG, doesn't likely stack up with those levels of teams. In my opinion.
 
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