Does Flory Bidunga make Louisville a title contender? With Mike Rutherford | 2026-27 Player Preview - Flory Bidunga
1h 10m | Oct 8, 2026Is Flory Bidunga the best big man in the ACC? And could he be Louisville's best center since Gorgui Dieng?
Mike Rutherford of Card Chronicle joins Starting Five02 for Episode 5 of our 2026–27 Louisville Basketball Player Profiles series, breaking down one of the most exciting additions of the Pat Kelsey era. The former Kansas standout and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year arrives in Louisville with enormous expectations. After two seasons of questions surrounding physicality, rebounding, and rim protection, Pat Kelsey may have finally found the missing piece.
Ryan Keeling, Jacob Lane, Alan Thomas, and Mike Rutherford discuss:
- Why landing Bidunga was such a massive statement for Louisville basketball
- What makes Flory one of the most versatile defensive big men in the country
- How his athleticism, rebounding, and offensive efficiency could transform Pat Kelsey's system
- Whether he's already the best center in the ACC
- His potential to earn All-American honors and compete for ACC Player of the Year
- Why Bidunga could be the player who takes Louisville from good back to great
Plus, Mike shares a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about how Louisville's pursuit of Bidunga began — and why getting the Cardinals back into the national spotlight in March means so much to this program.
**Is Flory Bidunga the missing piece for a Final Four run?** Let us know what you think in the comments.
Subscribe to Starting Five02 for more Louisville basketball coverage, player previews, and conversations with some of the biggest voices around the program.
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