Self says KU fans crossed line aiming profanity at ex-Jayhawks star Bidunga

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  Myron MedcalfOct 21, 2026, 11:37 PM ET

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  • Covers college basketball
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2011
  • Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

LAWRENCE, Kansas - Louisville standout Flory Bidunga, who won Big 12 defensive player of the year at Kansas last season, said he expected the profanity-laced chants from the student section at Allen Fieldhouse during Wednesday night's exhibition between the two top-25 preseason teams.

The chants of "F--- you, Flory" started when Bidunga walked onto the court for pregame warmups and continued early in the game. That's when the public address announcer relayed to the arena that Kansas athletic director Travis Goff had demanded the students stop.

"They're rooting for Kansas. I understand. Fans are going to be fans," said Bidunga, who finished with five points and one block in Louisville's 89-83 win. "They want Kansas to be great, so that means they'll say whatever they have to. 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."

Bill Self said he thought the "F--- you, Flory" chants crossed a line. But he also said booing a former player is fair game.

"I actually expected Flory to get booed," he said. "Anything beyond that is uncalled for, but I expected him to get booed. 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.

"I think it's fine that people react a certain way. 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."

Three players who will need to maintain their legal clearance to play another year -- Louisville's Seth Trimble and Kansas' Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White -- combined to score 57 points Wednesday. Former Purdue star Trey Kaufman-Renn, who joined the Jayhawks this week after winning an injunction for a sixth season, was on the sideline for Kansas but didn't play.

Kansas guard Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class, finished with 15 points on 3-for-13 shooting. Taylen Kinney, another five-star recruit for Kansas, added four points before he left the game with cramps.

Louisville was led by Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad, who had 23 points, and five-star recruit Obinna Ekezie Jr., who had 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

Ekezie said the team wanted to win for Bidunga.

"We were coming here to beat them. We had to because of Flory," Ekezie said. "That was our deal when we came and did that, so we're all really happy about it. We're all really happy that we came in and were able to help him win against his old team."