Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson recently addressed his ejection from the team’s 75-72 victory over Duke last Tuesday, where he was assessed a flagrant two foul for a foot-to-the-head incident involving Blue Devils forward Maliq Brown. After watching the replay multiple times, Dickinson believes the call was too harsh and should have been ruled a flagrant one, which would have kept him in the game.
The play in question occurred with 10:30 left in the second half when both Dickinson and Brown were on the ground, scrambling for a loose ball. Dickinson’s foot appeared to make contact with Brown’s head as both players jostled for position. Upon reviewing the incident, Dickinson feels that the slow-motion replay exaggerated the intensity of the contact. “I think the thing that probably got it [to be] a flagrant two was the ‘slo-mo,’” Dickinson explained at a news conference ahead of Kansas’ upcoming game at Creighton.
“I feel like if you watched it in real time and normal speed, I feel like it was a flagrant one,” Dickinson continued. “A flagrant two needs to be a little bit more malicious intent for that to occur. I put myself in that position and the refs made the call. So if you’re going to put yourself in that position, you can’t really be too picky and choosy with it.”
While Dickinson acknowledged that he was responsible for the foul, he also noted that the severity of the call was influenced by the slow-motion replay, which often highlights every movement with greater intensity than what’s seen in real-time action. Regardless of the ruling, Dickinson accepted the decision, understanding that he needed to move on from the ejection. The flagrant two forced the 7-foot-2, 265-pound center to leave the game and head to the locker room early.
Dickinson’s Impact in the Duke Game
Despite the early exit, Dickinson had a productive performance up until his ejection, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds in 24 minutes. Kansas relied on freshman center Flory Bidunga to fill in after Dickinson’s departure, and the young big man delivered with six points and eight rebounds in just 16 minutes of play.
Dickinson spoke highly of Bidunga’s development, mentioning that he has “been really good, really fun to play with, really fun to be around,” and praised his rapid improvement. “He’s growing at such a fast pace. He has so much untapped potential. He’s really good right now. He’ll get even better.” Bidunga, who has averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season, has already shown flashes of brilliance and could play an even more significant role as the season progresses.
Injury Update on Shakeel Moore
Kansas head coach Bill Self also provided an injury update on senior guard Shakeel Moore, who will miss Wednesday’s game against Creighton due to a sore foot. Moore, who underwent foot surgery in September, has not yet reached full recovery, and Self noted that it may take a month longer than originally anticipated for Moore to return to full strength.
“He’s not 100%. He may not even be 85%. He may not be that 100% all year long,” Self said, acknowledging that Moore’s recovery process has been slower than expected. However, Self remains optimistic that Moore will contribute later in the season. “We didn’t recruit him here to play next year. We recruited him to play here this year,” Self added.
While Moore’s absence is disappointing, Kansas has a deep roster that can handle his absence. The team will need to rely on the continued development of players like Dickinson and Bidunga, along with other key contributors, to stay competitive as the season heats up.
Looking Ahead
As the Jayhawks prepare for their game at Creighton, they will be looking to maintain their momentum after their victory over Duke. Dickinson’s ejection was a notable moment in the game, but it didn’t derail Kansas’ performance, thanks in large part to their depth and the emergence of younger players like Bidunga. With the 2024 season still young, Kansas will be aiming to build on their strong start and stay in the conversation for a top spot in the NCAA tournament.
As for Dickinson, the incident with Brown is now in the rearview mirror, but his reflections on the ejection demonstrate a level-headed perspective. Moving forward, Dickinson will focus on staying out of foul trouble, contributing to his team’s success, and continuing to mentor his younger teammates as the Jayhawks look to make another run at a national championship.
