Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson was ejected from the game against Duke after kicking Maliq Brown in the face while battling for a rebound. The incident occurred as both players fell to the ground, and Dickinson threw a back heel towards Brown, resulting in his ejection with a Flagrant 2 foul.
Kansas coach Bill Self expressed his opinion that the level of the foul could have been debatable between a level-1 and a level-2. Despite Dickinson’s ejection, the team managed to secure a narrow victory over Duke, with freshman Flory Bidunga stepping up in Dickinson’s absence.
The altercation between Dickinson and Brown brought attention to Dickinson’s history of being accused of dirty play throughout his college career. Despite this reputation, Dickinson has been a consistent performer, averaging double figures in points and rebounds over his five-year college career.
Following the game against Duke, Kansas will face Furman in the upcoming Las Vegas tournament. The team will look to continue their winning streak without Dickinson in the lineup, as they aim to maintain their position as a top-ranked team in the country.
The incident involving Dickinson serves as a reminder of the intensity and physicality often seen in college basketball games, where emotions can run high in competitive matchups. It also highlights the impact of disciplinary actions on players and teams, as ejections can significantly affect game outcomes and player rotations.
As Kansas moves forward from this incident, they will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming games, ensuring that all players remain disciplined on the court to avoid similar situations in the future. Dickinson’s absence will provide an opportunity for other players to showcase their skills and contribute to the team’s success in his absence, highlighting the depth and talent present in the Kansas Jayhawks roster.
