Graves shines in setback
Dallas ? If there was any consolation for Kansas University basketball fans in the Jayhawks’ early exit from the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball tournament Saturday at American Airlines Center, it might be there was evidence that senior Jeff Graves once again is saving his best for last.
Graves entered the league tournament averaging 5.4 points per game, but the 6-foot-9 forward scored a season-high 14 points in 15 minutes Friday in a 94-69 quarterfinal victory over Missouri and matched that with 14 points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s 64-60 semifinal loss to Texas.
“I have no idea,” Graves said of the disparity between his regular-season and postseason stats. “I guess I know what’s at stake. It comes down to one game. If you lose, you go home. I’m not ready to go home early. I’m going to play my heart out.”
On a day when Kansas struggled from the field (20 of 48) and from the foul line (16 of 28), Graves made five of eight shots from the field and four of six from the line.
The big man, who fouled out of four regular-season games and finished nine others with four fouls, also stayed out of trouble while freshman backup David Padgett fouled out after 14 minutes and senior forward Wayne Simien sat out more than six minutes in the first half after picking up his second foul.
“It doesn’t really matter what I do,” Graves said. “It’s what the team does.”
The team lost, but Graves’ teammates were glad to see him giving his best effort.
“That’s a big positive, especially to see the type of energy he’s bringing,” junior guard Keith Langford said. “We really need him for us to be successful. He gives us a lot better chance of winning. … We really need him to go as deep as we want to.”
Graves helped Kansas go deep in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Kansas' Jeff Graves (42) shoots against Brandon Mouton for two of his 14 points.
The junior-college transfer scored in double figures in only three of 29 regular-season games before coming on strong in March. He averaged 9.1 points per game in eight postseason games, including a 13-point, 15-rebound performance in a 69-65 regional final victory over Duke and a 16-point, 16-rebound outing in an 81-78 loss to Syracuse in the national-championship game.
Graves spent some time in former coach Roy Williams’ doghouse last season before showing off his postseason prowess. First-year coach Bill Self has benched Graves twice this season, but the senior has started the last four games.
“We’re getting along,” Graves said. “At the beginning of the year it was kind of hard to get used to a new coach, but we got used to it. There’s no excuses now.”
Just like last year, Kansas was bounced from the Big 12 tournament with a semifinal loss. That might not be all bad for a KU team with several key players — including Graves — nursing injuries.
Instead of playing their third game in three days today, the Jayhawks went home to await their NCAA Tournament draw.
“It might be good for us,” said Graves, who has tendinitis in his left knee, “but we wanted to win this tournament. Now we have to turn around and go back to practice and get better.”
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