Kansas City, Mo ? Jeff Graves was gone but not forgotten Saturday.

“We definitely missed him on the bench cheering and coming off the bench and playing. He’s a big part of the team,” Kansas University forward Wayne Simien said of his senior teammate, who was suspended by coach Bill Self Friday and didn’t make the trip to K.C. for Saturday’s 77-67 victory over Oregon.

“I missed him not being around the hotel,” junior Keith Langford said, noting he hoped Graves would be reinstated, perhaps as soon as Monday when the power forward will meet with Self before practice. “I mean, we’re going to need him back at some point. You saw what he’s capable of last year.

“He’s very capable of doing that again consistently. Everybody goes through some tough stretches. I’m sure this is a pretty tough stretch for him.”

Langford said he wouldn’t criticize Graves publicly for missing Friday’s practice and Graves’ other occasions of tardiness the past two seasons.

“It’s not my place to talk about another grown man handling his own problem,” Langford said. “I don’t think it’s anybody else’s, either, when they don’t know what’s going on with a person. I just let him handle it. I’ll just be supportive. Everybody is fine with him. He’s a cool guy.”

Still, the Jayhawks understand why their coach needed to suspend Graves, who has been late for practices and meetings on more than one occasion.

“He’s got to be accountable for his own actions. He is a grown man and has young guys looking up to him,” Simien said.

“Right now, it’s between him and coach. We never want to lose a teammate. He can bring great things for the team. But you know this has been going on for two years. There’s not much else you can do.”

Kansas' Moulaye Niang -- who played 19 minutes, in part because of the suspension of Jeff Graves -- vies for a rebound with Oregon's Jay Anderson, left, and James Davis. Niang finished with five boards and two points.

Self said he would meet with Graves and his parents Monday to “get a gameplan together. If he can live by the gameplan, great. If he can’t we’ll move on.”

Graves said Friday he would accept any punishment as long as he can return to the team. Issuing an apology, he said his tardiness would not happen again.

“I don’t think Monday is pivotal. I think every day after Monday will be pivotal,” Self said. “All he’s got to do is do what he’s supposed to do. It is not complicated at all. Be where you are supposed to be. Be responsible, and good things will happen to you, and in turn good things will happen to us.”

It appears Self is leaning toward bringing Graves back with the stipulation that one more mistake would be his last.

“The ball is in both our courts. If he’s got to do it, then he’s in a position now he’s got to be very impressive doing it. I’m not talking about playing. I’m talking about being responsible, because we’ll play some other guys,” Self said.

Jayhawks pluck Ducks Woodling: ‘Energy guy’ Miles critical for Kansas Ducks powerless to overcome KU Jayhawks missed Graves 6Sports video: Kansas upends Oregon See the photos: KU-Oregon photo gallery Get the stats: KU-Oregon box score Hear Bill: KU-Oregon postgame comments

KU will play guys like Moulaye Niang, who had five rebounds in 19 minutes Saturday and played good defense on Oregon scoring machine Luke Jackson.

“I am hopeful Jeff can get it together. I like him, and we could use him, and he needs this for himself,” Self said. “I also know if he can’t get it together, much like today, we’ve got some guys who love to be here, do everything they are supposed to do that give us a chance to win.”

Self has not spoken to Graves since suspending him Friday. He said Graves — who did not attend Saturday’s game — was not a hopeless case.

“I think Jeff has shown flashes of really being committed and doing everything right,” Self said, “but also hasn’t been responsible to have things happen that are totally unacceptable.”

Self was asked if his suspension of Graves could serve as a message to the rest of KU’s players that they must be held accountable for their actions.

“It’s not intended to be, but I’m sure it is,” Self said. “I mean, David Padgett couldn’t practice yesterday (ankle sprain), and Wayne (Simien) is 80 percent groin strain), and Jeff did not play today. We didn’t go in the game with confidence we had enough bodies to play inside.

Kansas University freshman J.R. Giddens (15) scores two of his 18 points against Oregon's Andre Joseph (35) in the first half. The Jayhawks beat the Ducks, 77-67, Saturday at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.

“Absolutely we could use a body. His skill level and talent level is such he can make us better, but he has to be committed to it or he won’t be happy.”

¢

Power surge untimely: The lights at Kemper Arena shut down because of a power surge right before the start of the second half.

There was an 18-minute delay before the second-half start.

“When the lights went out, I looked up like something cool was going to happen,” KU freshman J.R. Giddens said. “Then there was an announcement that there’d be a delay. I thought, no, we have the momentum right now, and now Oregon’s players can regroup and will say, ‘We can play with them.’

“I’m not a patient person anyway.”

¢

Stats, facts: KU has won 24 straight regular-season games at Kemper Arena. KU is 4-3 all-time against Oregon. … Langford is five points shy of 1,000. … KU had a season-low nine turnovers. … Omar Wilkes played 14 minutes and cashed a three during KU’s 21-5 run that broke open a two-point game in the second half.