Jeff Graves didn’t mope after getting stripped of his starting job Monday night.

He grabbed six rebounds and scored four points in 21 minutes during KU’s 65-56 victory over Missouri — a game in which the 6-foot-9, 255-pound senior sat at the start for disciplinary reasons. He had started KU’s last five games.

“I think he responded well,” Keith Langford said of Graves, who, according to a reliable source, was late for a 3 p.m. shootaround. “In the past, he might have had trouble with it.”

Of his decision to start David Padgett, KU coach Bill Self said: “I’ll put it to you like this … I had a reason not to start him.”

Self, who didn’t confirm reports Graves was tardy, said no further discipline was planned.

“Jeff’s fine,” Self said. “He was in the office all day. It just so happens he kind of … I had a reason to not start him.”

Graves served a one-game suspension — against Oregon — for being tardy for a practice the day before that game. He also was late for a meeting in the preseason and as a result didn’t start KU’s first exhibition game.

After the one-game suspension, Self said Graves had no more “margin for error” and “not much rope left.”

Obviously this transgression wasn’t too serious.

Kansas University's bench players celebrate a late Aaron Miles free throw in the Jayhawks' 65-56 victory over Missouri. KU won the Border War Monday in Allen Fieldhouse.

“I made a decision today to start David. The way it played out, I’m glad I did,” Self said. Padgett scored six points with six boards in 26 minutes; Graves had four points and six boards. “You delay him (Graves) picking up two fouls.

• angford said nobody on the team had a problem with Graves.

“Nah … everybody is good. There’s nothing negative going on with our team now,” Langford said. “Everything is positive.”

Miles drives KU to victory Woodling: Jayhawk defense saves day Tigers pessimistic after loss Graves late to practice, starts on bench Hear Bill: KU-MU postgame comments See the photos: KU-Missouri Get the stats: KU-MU box score 6Sports video: KU defeats Missouri, 65-56

• ast year, Graves was late for a practice and lost his starting spot before a Feb. 15 home game against Iowa State. Former coach Roy Williams played Graves 16 minutes in the game.

Graves was not available for comment Monday.

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Chants, signs: KU fans chanted “NIT, NIT” as the Tigers walked off the court. MU fell to 9-9 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 Conference play. Prior to the game, security removed signs in the southwest corner of the fieldhouse.

“We removed some signs we thought crossed the bounds of good taste, not in the spirit of good sportsmanship,” KU associate AD Jim Marchiony said.

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Everybody dresses: All 16 KU players dressed for the game. The Big 12 rule allows just 15 players to suit up in road games. At home games, 16 is allowable.

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Rankings: KU is ranked 20th in the AP poll, the Jayhawks’ lowest rating since a No. 20 ranking during the fourth week of the 2002-03 season.

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Scouts: Seventeen scouts attended Monday’s game, including R.C. Buford, a former KU assistant and current GM of the San Antonio Spurs. Buford and Self are buddies.

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Emotional game: MU and KU players had words on several occasions.

KU students, from left, Diane Basone, Daschie Ouellette, Jonathan Kealing, Darren Reed and Drew Nedved, make noise in support of the Jayhawks.

• Langford and Aaron Miles had words with MU’s Jason Conley after Conley was guilty of a charging foul into Langford.
• Michael Lee and Travon Bryant had words after MU’s Jimmy McKinney was guilty of a hard hack on KU’s Jeremy Case.
• Bryant and Padgett jawed after getting tangled up for a rebound.
• Miles and Arthur Johnson also woofed.

“I wouldn’t say this one was more different. I put a little more stock in this one because me, Aaron and Wayne are upperclassmen,” Langford said. “How we play can affect our team. We are the main focal points of the rivalry at this time.”

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Big 12 race close: KU holds a 6-1 league record, with Oklahoma State and Texas at 5-1, Texas Tech and Iowa State 4-2, Colorado at 4-3 and Missouri at 4-4.

“I think this race is very balanced,” Self said. “It’s probably more balanced than what people thought. It’s going to be a great race, and I would anticipate it going down to the last week — maybe the last game of the season for everybody.

“There will be some mild upsets the rest of the way because the talent level is so even. Anytime you win on the road it’s a huge win in conference play because everyone knows each other so well. People don’t understand what it’s like to go and win at Nebraska or win at Texas A&M — everything is a fight. If you can win on the road and hold serve at home — you have a chance. There are four or five teams that have done a great job positioning themselves to make a strong second half push.”

Kansas' J.R. Giddens, right, who collected 11 points and seven rounds, triggers over Missouri's Travon Bryant.

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Self keeps tabs on Illini: Self’s former team, Illinois, holds a 13-5 record, 4-3 in the Big Ten.

A Chicago reporter asked KU’s coach Monday how closely he followed the Illini.

“I keep as close of an eye on them as I can. We have the (ESPN) Full Court package, so I will watch every game that I possibly can of Illinois,” Self said.

“I know my wife does. She’s watched just about every one of them. Most of the games that I get to watch, I see maybe a half. The Michigan game, I saw them for a half because we played at the same time. If they are on TV we are definitely watching them. I anticipate them to make a strong push.”