Kansas City, Mo. ? You can always tell when March is here, because that’s when Kansas University basketball forward Jeff Graves starts becoming a major force.

Yes, it’s that time of year again, when the Jayhawks make runs in the NCAA Tournament, and Graves, a senior, is a catalyst behind them.

KU’s 78-63 victory over Pacific on Sunday is another in a long line of examples.

Graves scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in 33 minutes Sunday, further cementing the claim that as unreliable as he may be in the regular season, he’s as rock-solid in the postseason.

“He’s a great kid,” KU coach Bill Self said. “But I’d take my own alarm clock if I was hanging out with him.”

Self’s ribbing about Graves’ curfew problems are probably deserving after the numerous regular-season issues that landed Graves in Self’s doghouse.

But Self also is willing to talk on and on about all that Graves does right for the Jayhawks, who now are heading to a Sweet 16 showdown Friday with Alabama-Birmingham.

“Jeff’s a little bit of a procrastinator,” Self said. “He may not do his homework a week out in advance. He may wait until the night before or morning of.

“Certainly with this season, he procrastinated a little bit. He waited until the end when it counted the most. But some guys perform better under pressure.”

Kansas' Jeff Graves (42) shoots against Guillaume Yango (33) and Michael White in the second half.

Self’s explanation was much better than Graves’. The 6-foot-9 forward really didn’t have one.

“I don’t know what it is,” Graves said. “I just go out there and play. I don’t want to lose. It’s a one-game tournament, and if you lose, you go home. I don’t want to go home.”

From the opening tip, Graves seemed to play with that in the back of his head.

KU took a quick 2-0 lead when Miles lobbed a pass that Graves threw down for a thunderous alley-oop dunk. Kemper Arena fans, markedly pro-KU, predictably went bonkers.

The solid play continued, and Graves had eight points and three rebounds in the first half. But the most impressive statistic was the lone personal foul he was called for — one that didn’t take place until there was 3:15 remaining in the half.

KU stems Pacific tide Woodling: Dejà vu? This looks like 1988 Sign of spring: Graves steps up KU’s size, fans doom Tigers Jayhawks not thrilled over date with UAB Jayhawk fans cheer own win, Kentucky loss Fanfare heralds team’s return Tickets still available for Friday’s game Matchup win-win for KU prof Kansas aide Roberts to interview at SMU today UK ‘in shock’ over early ouster 6Sports video: Kansas storms into Sweet 16 6Sports video: Jayhawks score early against Pacific Get the stats: KU-Pacific box score Hear Bill: KU-Pacific postgame comments Alabama-Birmingham scouting report See the photos: KU-Pacific photo gallery

“I think I was a lot more aggressive,” Graves said. “D-Man (KU aide Danny Manning) told me I had zero fouls near the end of the first half, and I could be more aggressive. That’s what I tried to do.”

The Jayhawks weren’t any bigger than Pacific (25-8).

With 6-9 Christian Maraker and 6-8 Guillaume Yango combining for 26 points inside for the Tigers, Simien, Graves and freshman David Padgett had their work cut out for them.

The three were solid, though, combining for 37 points and 24 rebounds.

Only Padgett was in any sort of foul trouble.

“I think that changes the game tremendously,” Graves said. “We stick to the inside game when we’re not in foul trouble. It’s only to our advantage.”

Kansas (23-8) is 5-1 when Graves scores in double figures. And, with March here, he has hit double figures in four of his last six games.

“Deeper in the season, we realize how everything is important,” Graves said. “We can’t take anything for granted, and we have to come together as a team even more.”