Hunter Dickinson continues to be the biggest villain in college basketball. Kansas head coach Bill Self ripped his big man for what he called a “bonehead play” during Wednesday’s road win over TCU.
The fifth-year senior almost started a bench-clearing ball with his refusal to let go of the ball.
Dickinson, a former four-star recruit, began his college basketball career with three years at Michigan and later transferred to Kansas in large part due to NIL money. He consistently gets himself into trouble both on and off the court. His mouth often puts a target on his back. His shenanigans, like in-game foot stomps on opponents, make him widely disliked by fans all over the country.
Wednesday was a great example.
Dickinson pulled down a rebound during the second half of a one-point game but Horned Frogs forward Trazarien White also got his hands on the ball. A fight for possession proceeded to unfold. TCU guard Vasean Allette and freshman Malick Diallo also tried to rip the ball away. Dickinson refused to give up.
The jostle quickly turned hostile. A brawl nearly broke out because Kansas’ center would not let go.
Hunter Dickinson WILL NOT GIVE UP THE BALL 😂 pic.twitter.com/IguVix7gpZ
— tanner (@twotanz) January 23, 2025
Officials reviewed the play after Dickinson finally gave up the ball. They issued a technical foul to him and to White. Bill Self was displeased.
Although the Jayhawks went on to win by 13, their head coach was furious with his leading scorer and rebounder. He did not appreciate Hunter Dickinson’s obduracy.
I thought it was asinine that our guy would hang onto the ball like that […]
That was a bonehead play. But what made it a bonehead play as much as anything … when the whistle blows, you stop. And I’m sure they blew it several times. Cost us a possession, so yeah, I wasn’t happy to see that at all.
— Bill Self
TCU head coach Jamie Dixon did not care as much as Self.
It was unimportant, I guess. I don’t even know what the Ts were for, but I guess the officials told them to stop. They didn’t do what they were told to do by the officials.
— Jamie Dixon
Regardless of which coach feels what way, college basketball fans were once again furious with Hunter Dickinson. Kansas’ extremely well-paid big continues to be a villain and refuses to stray from his role.
To his credit, despite the technical foul, he finished with a game-high 16 points, with nine rebounds and four assists. Dickinson got the last laugh.