Louisville basketball spent a lot of money this offseason, adding nine players, including six from the Transfer Portal. Louisville’s offseason was quite busy, building one of the most expensive rosters in college basketball, and Pat Kelsey and his staff immediatley have Final Four expectations.
This Cardinals team is loaded with talent, landing the No. 1 Transfer Portal class in the nation, as Kelsey landed two transfers in the top 20, three transfers in the top 60 and four in the top 70. The biggest addition for Louisville this offseason was the 5-star center from Kansas, Flory Bidunga.
The Kansas transfer has been getting a lot of criticism this offseason, whether it is his offensive bag or something else. Well, Bidunga doesn’t need much more motivation, but if he did, the Field of 68 just gave him even more motivation.
Field of 68 casts some doubt on Louisville's Flory Bidunga
The Cardinals fans have expectations for the 5-star center, as he is expected to have one of the highest NIL valuations in college sports this upcoming season. Bidunga is coming off an All-Big 12 year with Kansas, and after being ranked No. 1 overall in the Transfer Portal, it is safe to say he has the potential to be an All-American this upcoming year.
Well, the Field of 68 isn’t quite sure, actually.
“Do they have an All-American?” stated Rob Dauster. “Do they have anyone that’s going to be a top five player in the sport in their position? Do they have any superstars?”
Dauster appears not to be as high as some are on Bidunga and even Jackson Shelstad. Bidunga has the potential to be an All-American, and it is hard to argue. He is coming off a year where he averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. He earned 14 double-doubles this past year, ranked No. 5 in blocks per game, No. 4 in total blocks (91), and was on the All-Big 12 First-Team and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-9 center has the potential to be an All-American, and Dauster is giving the motivation Bidugna might need.
“I just don’t know where the All-Americans and pros are on this Louisville roster, and I hope that I am wrong about Jackson Shelstad and I hope that I am wrong about Flory Bidunga, but we will see if they can be at that level.”
Bidunga certainly needs to improve his offensive game, but the 5-star center is a dominant big man who has the potential to take another jump this season and be a top-five center in college basketball. He is a dominant lob threat and one of the best rim protectors in college basketball, and if he emerges as a more offensive threat and develops a post game, he is going to be one of the best centers in the sport.
Bidunga continues to get a lot of criticism this offseason, and now at this point, he needs to use it as bulletin board material and prove these doubters wrong.
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