Roy Williams hugged Adonis Jordan before Monday night’s Kansas University-EA Sports All-Stars exhibition basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse.

And Williams, Kansas’ basketball coach, draped his arms around his former point guard after Jordan fouled out in the waning moments of KU’s 111-94 exhibition victory.

He even talked to Jordan during the game  after Jordan was called for a foul while nearly blocking Aaron Miles’ shot with 1:44 left in the first half.

“I said he never blocked a shot while he was here, so why should he try now?” Williams said with a smile. “He’s a great, great youngster. I’m really happy how the crowd treated him.”

KU’s fans gave Jordan  who led KU to Final Fours in 1991 and ’93 after signing on as Williams’ first marquee recruit  a prolonged standing ovation during warmups as Jordan bowed several times in appreciation.

“I don’t know if people really understand how important he was to us 15 long years ago,” Williams said. “He stuck with us when times were tough here.”

In fact, the Reseda, Calif., product inked with KU despite the fact a serious probation had just been handed down.

“Two kids had given us commitments and had changed their minds (after probation was announced in ’88),” Williams said. “Some kids canceled visits. It was dark and gloomy around here. Adonis was one kid who stuck with us. He was rewarded very well. He started, was point guard for two Final Fours, played in the national championship game and was great for our program.”

Jordan spoke to KU’s players in the Jayhawks’ locker room after the game.

“He talked to us about staying together and having a great year,” KU forward Nick Collison said. “Ask coach Williams and he’ll tell you Adonis was probably the most important player in building our program.”

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Graves still not on team: Junior college transfer Jeff Graves scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in 10 minutes.

Williams, however, said Graves still wasn’t officially a member of the team. He hasn’t passed his running test.

He must complete 61¼2 laps of the Memorial Stadium track in 12 minutes. He fell about 140 yards short in his last try on Sunday.

“For 15 years you’ve heard me call these glorified practices,” Williams said. “It’s the reason I let him play. He’s still not talking to the media, still not officially on our team. He’s still got some running to do.

“It remains to be seen if I’d continue playing him if the regular season gets here if he hasn’t passed his test yet. It’s going to be a long winter out there cause it’s as cold as the dickens trying to run. If it was me, I’d just make it and get it over with.”

Williams was asked when the 6-foot-9 Graves  who reported to campus at 293 pounds, but now looks more like 280  would try again.

“Whenever I tell him to,” Williams said. “We try to make it good and cold and sleet and freezing rain. He’ll run it several times. When he finally decides to make it, his life will get a lot easier. It’s one thing as head coach you get to be stubborn and I’m not going to give in so he might as well make it.”

The run has confounded some players in the past.

“Some guys do well at it,” Williams said. “Some don’t mind it. Some hate it. You’ve got to do it. Like taxes.”

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Baggy shorts: KU forward Collison left the bench area for the locker room early in the game. He wasn’t injured, so what was he doing?

“My shorts were too big. I had to cut the string so I could tie them together,” he said. “I was afraid they’d fall down.”

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Endorsements: Drew Gooden has reached an endorsement deal with EA Sports. Gooden, a No. 1 pick of the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2002 NBA Draft, will appear on all packaging, advertising and marketing materials for NCAA March Madness 2003.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“It’s an honor for me to be chosen to be on the cover of a game like NCAA March Madness 2003,” Gooden said. “I play a lot of video games, and to see myself on the cover of an EA Sports game is a great feeling. I can’t wait to sit down and play as the Kansas Jayhawks.”

EA Sports bills itself as the leading interactive sports software brand in the world.

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Stats, facts: KU has now won 17 straight home exhibition games dating to a 93-82 loss to Australia on Nov. 29, 1993. KU is now 31-7 all-time in exhibition play. KU is 24-2 all-time in home exhibition action. … KU is now 5-0 versus the EA All-Stars, playing the team five straight seasons.