Niang ‘terrific’ against Oregon

KU coach Self impressed by sophomore's defense in 77-67 win over Ducks

Moulaye Niang doesn’t need to score points in bunches to help Kansas University’s basketball team win games.

Case in point was Saturday’s 77-67 victory over Oregon — a game in which the 6-foot-10, 220-pound sophomore missed all four of his shots, but grabbed five rebounds with an assist, a block and a steal in 19 minutes.

Niang showed defensive versatility in guarding both Oregon scoring machine Luke Jackson, who stands 6-7, and Ian Crosswhite, who is 6-11.

“Moulaye was terrific,” KU coach Bill Self said. “He moved his feet well enough that he guarded Jackson for a period of time, a hard matchup for anybody.

“You don’t need your bench to be prolific scorers,” Self added. “You need your bench to come in and be solid. He makes plays on defense. He moves his feet and thinks a pass ahead. That’s very good.”

Self loves players who play defense, and he turned to Niang early to put the clamps on Crosswhite, who had six points the first half and 12 for the game.

“Crosswhite was giving us trouble a little bit so coach asked me if I could guard him. I said I can definitely guard him,” Niang said. “Coach just said, ‘Go in there and give it your best. Help us on defense.’

“I’m pretty good on defense, so he was just like, ‘Do what you did the last game. Hustle on defense, get rebounds and you will be fine.’ The time I was in there I think he barely ever scored, or if he could touch the ball, actually, so I think I did pretty good on defense.”

Niang has hit two of 11 shots this season and three of six free throws.

He’s not concerned about those numbers, though.

“Defense gets me going,” Niang said. “I play defense. Top guys get steals, so that gets me going. On offense … whatever comes, whatever I get, I get. I’m just trying to get whatever I can get.”

Niang’s presence will be especially valuable if Jeff Graves is away from the team for an extended period of time.

“I’m feeling great,” Niang said. ” We needed somebody to step up. Jeff got suspended so we’ve got to have other big men step up. I got an opportunity to get in there and do the best I can do.”

He has played a whopping 37 minutes the past two games.

“When you see that your coach really appreciates what you’re doing, it gives you more confidence. So I’m really excited about it, and I’m happy that I got a chance to prove that I can do it,” Niang said. “At the beginning of the year I never had a chance to prove that I can do it, but now I’m feeling the confidence he gave me.”

The suspended Graves will meet with Self today to learn of Self’s plan as to if and when the senior will be allowed to resume practicing and playing in KU games.

“I do not want to compare Jeff and Moulaye, as to who is better or whatever,” Self said. “Jeff has a bigger body; Moulaye has the better feet defensively.

“When Jeff plays to his ability, he gives us some things nobody else in our program can with his body and strength. When you can put a 6-10 guy (Niang) on the perimeter and don’t have to crowd him (6-7 Jackson) because Moulaye’s reach is long enough he can contest … those are some things Moulaye gives us.”

Whether Graves returns or not, the Jayhawks now believe Niang will be able to help in games this season.

“He works hard every day in practice, works hard on defense,” KU junior Wayne Simien said. “This has to help his confidence a lot. He helped us a lot today.”

As far as Graves, Self said he doesn’t think today will be a pivotal day, but “every day after Monday will be pivotal. All he’s got to do is what he’s supposed to do. It’s 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.”

The Jayhawks will next meet UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Saturday in Reno, Nev. KU will play Nevada at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.