Hunter Dickinson was ejected after kicking the Duke punter during the return game

On By Littum

Kansas center Hunter Dickinson did his best Draymond Green impression in Tuesday’s 75-72 win over Duke.

The Kansas center kicked Duke forward Maliq Brown as the two lay on the ground fighting for a rebound in a game the Jayhawks led 57-55 at the time.

Dickinson went over Brown’s back as he tried to get a rebound on his own short miss. As Brown aggressively boxed out, both players collapsed to the floor.

Hunter Dickinson throws his heel in the face of Maliq Brown. X, @espn

Dickinson tumbled and threw a back heel into Brown’s face, turning the contest into a chippy as the players had to be separated.

After review, the Jayhawks’ 24-year-old leading scorer and rebounder was issued a Flagrant 2 and ejected from the game.

“I did not think at the moment, nor do I feel now, that a level-2 is warranted,” Kansas coach Bill Self said after the match. “In my opinion, it’s probably a coin change, whether it’s a level-1 or a level-2.”

Dickinson is now in his fifth year of college and his second at Kansas after starting his career at Michigan. Accusations of being a dirty player has followed him for most of his career.

“I saw on the screen that he kicked him in the face, so I think that warrants a flagrant-2,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “I haven’t looked good or anything, but it was really easy for me.”

Dickinson entered Tuesday’s game averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Maliq Brown caught a fumble from Hunter Dickinson. X, @espn

The 7-foot-2, 265-pound center is a crucial part of the top-ranked Jayhawks, who failed to reach the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons after winning the 2022 national title.

Dickinson has been productive throughout his college career, averaging at least 14 points per game. match in each of its five years.

He had 11 points and six rebounds before leaving Tuesday’s contest.

Maliq Brown was mad at Hunter Dickinson. X, @ESPN
Hunter Dickinson is an impressive figure for Kansas. Getty Images

Flory Bidunga replaced Dickinson and finished with six points and eight rebounds.

“Obviously it’s a bummer that an All-American like Hunter had to go,” Kansas forward KJ Adams said, according to the AP. “But it makes me happy that Flo got a chance to show the world what he can do. It’s unbelievable what he did out there, especially a rookie coming into the big environment, a huge game. He did it right well.”

After his departure, the lead bounced back and forth, and Kansas ultimately held on when Duke freshman Kon Knueppel rimmed a bankshot 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Kansas next faces Furman on Saturday in the early season Las Vegas tournament.