Kansas guard Darryn Peterson (22) raises his hands in celebration after a bucket during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug

A few months before arriving on campus at Kansas, freshman guard Darryn Peterson said he was most excited to play with his center Flory Bidunga.

Now, just weeks away from the regular season, Bidunga and Peterson are building chemistry and a two-man game that the Jayhawks can rely on throughout the upcoming season.

“My job is to make him look better, and his job is to make us look better,” Bidunga said. “I’m excited for him to be here and be a part of the Jayhawks and to play with him on the same team.”

Bidunga spent last year as a backup big man and rotated in with KJ Adams and Hunter Dickinson. He averaged 5.9 points per game in 16.2 minutes per game through the 2024-25 season. This summer, he’s focused on getting into the best shape, and coach Bill Self said that he can “make a case for being the most consistent guy so far” in preseason practices.

While in action, Bidunga challenged teams at the rim. His athleticism and ability to pressure a defense when rolling to the rim can make it difficult for teams to defend a pick-and-roll with Peterson also driving to the basket. Building off that, the two can form a dynamic two-man game to keep defenses on their toes.

“I think we’re playing really well together right now, and we’re just consistently getting better,” Peterson said. “We’re looking for each other — I see what he likes, he sees what I like. I think people are going to have to respect our two-man plays, for sure.”

Throughout his first year at Kansas, Bidunga showed a special ability to finish lobs. For Peterson, there’s never a lob attempt that Bidunga can’t throw down.

“There’s been a lot of times where I throw it and I think ‘It’s too high,’ and he still goes and gets it,” Peterson said. “There’s no such thing as too high for him.”

Self said that Bidunga has improved “on the perimeter” over the offseason, developing a better ability as a playmaker and ball handler. His growth in some of the smaller aspects of playing within the offense can help both him and Peterson have an efficient attack this season.

Peterson arrived as one of the top recruits in the country and one of the highest-rated in Kansas history by several recruiting sites. On top of his ability as a strong downhill scorer and ball handler, several players on the team mentioned Peterson’s shooting in practices. With the threat of Peterson shooting, it opens up more space for Bidunga in the paint for lobs and other plays.

“We’re both threats from three levels out,” Peterson said. “With the lobs, I don’t think anyone is going up to block that. They have to respect both of us at all times, anywhere on the court.”

With Bidunga being one of the few returners and Peterson coming in with the skill and pedigree he has, the two have the skill sets required to play off each other and lead the Jayhawks’ offense. So far, the results have been good.

“Our chemistry is pretty good — we’re working on stuff as a team and with me and him together,” Bidunga said. “We always have this two-man game at the end of the shot clock. We want to make people respect me or him. So far, it’s been pretty good.”

Kansas forward Flory Bidunga (40) gets up to contest a shot from Kansas guard Jamari McDowell (11) during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug