Flory Bidunga’s much-anticipated return to Kansas turned out to be a success … for Bidunga’s Louisville Cardinals.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound junior forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who left KU after two seasons via the transfer portal for ACC school Louisville, didn’t exactly fill the stat line, scoring just five points with three rebounds and one block while starting and playing 28 minutes in No. 11-ranked U of L’s 89-83 exhibition victory over No. 17 KU on Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

However the modest stats, his team did come away with the win.

Tre White scored 25 points and Melvin Council 20 for the Jayhawks. Freshman standout Tyran Stokes had 15 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes. The Cardinals, who hit 14 of 30 ’s to KU’s 7-of-24, were led by Jackson Shelstad’s 23 points. Obinna Ekezie had 16.

After the final horn, Bidunga hugged KU’s White warmly and some of his Cardinal teammates then looked into the south student section and waved to the students, even blowing them a kiss.

Bidunga, who scored just two points with no boards, two turnovers and two fouls in 13 minutes the first half (KU led by one at the break), was booed by the KU student section during warmups.

Upon running through the tunnel to the Louisville locker room with about eight minutes before tip, he raised both hands over his ears as fans booed him loudly.

He received more boos during official introductions. During the early stages of the exhibition, KU fans chanted “(Expletive) you Flory.” At the next timeout, an announcement was made asking fans to refrain from obscene chants.

Coach Bill Self, who hugged Bidunga shortly before tip, was not pleased with the obscene chants staring into the student section.

Here are some takeaways and observations...

KU basketball’s starting lineup

Bill Self opened with a lineup of Tre White, Tyran Stokes, Taylen Kinney, Paul Mbiya and Melvin Council Jr. At least one new Jayhawk was not available to join that group.

Former Purdue big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, who joined the KU team on Sunday, did not play. Coach Bill Self had said Tuesday he was not yet in the best of shape, thus probably would not play versus the Cardinals.

His next chance is Sunday’s noon home exhibition vs. Duke.

First-half shooting woes

KU hit just 12 of 33 shots the first half for 36.4%. The Jayhawks hit 4 of 13 3s, two from Melvin Council Jr. and two from Tre White, recent additions to the squad.

KU’s Tyran Stokes did hit 7 of 10 free throws the initial half for nine points.

NCAA wants cases hastened

The NCAA on Wednesday filed a motion for an expedited resolution to its appeal of the preliminary injunction that is allowing Tre White and 98 others who have filed suits against the NCAA in (Indiana court) to be eligible for participation this season.

The NCAA noted in a filing that since December 2024 the organization “has faced over 260 lawsuits challenging its eligibility rules and is currently defending over 150 active cases nationwide involving more than 734 plaintiffs. A speedy resolution on the merits would quell the spread of similar cases in Indiana.”

Coach Ted Owens in the house

A reception was held for former KU coach Ted Owens before the game in the fieldhouse. It’s unofficial “Ted Owens week” as he will Thursday be inducted in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. David Magley, Tad Boyle, Wayne Simien, Jeff Dishman and Mark Ewing were just a few of the many hanging out with 97-year-old Owens before tip.

Owens was introduced to the crowd after a tribute was played on the video board at the 7:39 timeout. Owens actually entered the KU huddle and visited with assistant coach Kurtis Townsend and KU coach Bill Self as Owens exited through the northwest tunnel back to his seat.

This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 8:36 PM with the headline "KU basketball falls to Flory Bidunga, Louisville in exhibition game: Takeaways."