Taking things for granted is something Jeff Graves will never do again.

Not while he’s a member of the Kansas University men’s basketball team. Not while he’s enjoying the good life of a college athlete. Not while he’s in shape coming into this season.

Graves has seen the sour side of college sports all too often to be caught on his heels anymore.

“Everybody has to go through obstacles,” Graves said, shrugging off his past.

But nobody — at least none of his teammates — has gone through what Graves has gone through. The senior prepares for his final year as a forward for KU, still on an emotional high after a tremendous performance — 16 points, 16 rebounds — in the national championship game against Syracuse in April.

“Knowing that I finished up strong, and knowing that the team finished up strong,” Graves said, “I know that if everybody works hard we can get back to the championship game.”

But it seems Graves needs to work a little harder than everyone else to stay in game shape. After two years of the less-than-glamarous life of junior college basketball at Iowa Western, Graves signed with Kansas, adding badly needed depth to the KU frontcourt of Nick Collison, Drew Gooden and Wayne Simien.

His role was more critical when Gooden dashed for the NBA after his junior season.

But after signing with KU, Graves seemed to let the satisfaction of his accomplishment get the best of him. He arrived in Lawrence drastically overweight, so much so that former coach Roy Williams refused to acknowledge him as a member of the team.

Graves was then involved in a nasty car accident in Kansas City, Mo., last fall, one that set back his attempts at re-earning his spot on the team.

He eventually reached his playing weight, had flashes of greatness — especially come NCAA Tournament time — but through the course of the regular season, still had motivation problems.

Williams criticized him.

Players spoke out, wondering when he was going to get it together.

Graves never once backed down from the heat.

Now, Graves says he has his act together.

“I prepared myself more this summer,” Graves said. “I stayed active, and I ran all the time.”

It’s a welcome sight for the Jayhawks, trying to reach their third straight Final Four this season. When Graves was hitting his potential, KU was obviously a better team. With new coach Bill Self at the helm, there’s also a new offensive scheme that has Graves salivating.

“We play through our big guys in the way we play,” Self said. “If they can position themselves to make a lot of easy baskets they will have a chance to be successful. Usually strong bodies and good feet give you the best chance to do that.

“I think Jeff Graves will be great for what we want to accomplish.”

The news is music to Graves’s ears. As a junior, he averaged 6.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. This year, he wants those numbers go up.

“I’m going to try to do everything to the best of my ability,” Graves said. “And I hope everyone else does that, too.”

— Sports reporter Ryan Wood can be reached at 832-7152.