Most Kansas University basketball fans probably think J.R. Giddens is just showing his emotions when he raises his arm and makes a fist during pregame introductions.

After all, the freshman from Oklahoma City seems to be nearly as quick with his smile as he is with his unorthodox three-point shots.

While Giddens’ simple gesture is also about emotions, it has very little to do with basketball.

“Every time my name is announced in the starting lineup, I put my fist up for her,” Giddens said of his mother, Dianna, who has been hospitalized since mid-December because of a serious medical condition stemming from years of smoking.

“She’s on a lot of medication right now, so she’s in and out of it, but I know that she can understand that. When I put my fist up, that’s for her.”

Only weeks ago, when J.R. was supposed to be having the time of his life as he prepared for his first NCAA Tournament, Dianna was clinging to life.

“It was hard,” said Giddens, who added that his mother was still in the hospital but doing better and off life support.

Even after Giddens exploded for 30 points in the first two rounds of the tournament, he said hiding his emotional pain was much tougher than covering up the physical pain of the foot injury that has hampered the former McDonald’s High School All-American all season.

“I feel the excitement of winning, but at the same time my mom is always with me,” Giddens said. “Whenever I get a chance to talk to her, it’s just … when your parents are there, you take advantage of them. You take it for granted having them there every day. Then when you almost lose somebody, like your mom, every time I talk to her it’s something special. She could just say something out of line and I wouldn’t even care because I’m talking to my mom. I cherish every moment that I speak with her.”

Kansas freshman J.R. Giddens is the center of attention before practice. Giddens and the Jayhawks worked out Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse in preparation for Friday's Sweet 16 game in St. Louis against Alabama-Birmingham.

J.R. has been home only once since his mother first went into the hospital, but teammates and coaches have helped him through his ordeal.

“My dad works night shifts, so when he’s working I’m usually at practice or in school. When I have time to talk, he’s working so I never really get to talk to him,” J.R. said. “I get to talk to my little sister a little bit, and my cousins are keeping me filled in on the condition of my mom. I really have nobody to talk to besides some of my teammates.

“But I think that’s what brought me and my roommate, Jeremy Case, closer.”

Case, a freshman from McAlester, Okla., already was good friends with Giddens because they played on the same AAU team. But Case said when he and Giddens aren’t having serious talks, he’ll lighten the mood.

“When his mom has been real bad and he’s gotten off the phone and sounded sad, I might try to say something to make him laugh, or get his mind off of how bad his mom’s doing and say something positive to him,” Case said.

“It’s been real tough, but just playing basketball, going out on the court helps to take his mind off of everything. Basketball is kind of a place where he’s at peace, where he can have some fun and take his mind off of everything going on.”

Kansas coach Bill Self said the fact that Giddens, a 6-foot-5 guard, who averages 11 points per game, has been able to go from a wide-eyed freshman to a vital part of KU’s success was an even more amazing feat considering Giddens’ off-court concerns.

“Based on what I know, she’s been great about not wanting him to worry,” Self said. “They went through a period of time where they didn’t get a chance to talk much for medical reasons. They are talking more now, because she feels up to it. I can see he feels like a burden has been lifted because she is doing much better.

“I talk to him about it all the time, about how she’s doing. It’s tough. Dad is spending a lot of time at the hospital. It’s been tough for J.R. to even get some information at times, but I think it may have been by design, they didn’t want him to worry too much.

“He’s handled all this great. Think about all the things this team has been through this year, that being one of them, for him to stay focused and perform like he has with a lot more important things going on — says a lot for him.”

Self’s been proud of how the Jayhawks have supported Giddens.

“The team is aware she’s going through some hard times. I think they’ve helped, been good teammates and family members,” Self said. “They’ve helped J.R. through this. He’s handed everything great.”

Partly because J.R. remembers the message his mom gave him at an early age.

“She’s always been one of my biggest fans,” said J.R., showing his trademark ear-to-ear grin. “When I was born she said she knew I was special, and now I’m able to share my gifts with the world.”

And before the start of every game this season he’s sure to salute one person in particular.

“I don’t know, I just try to play good for my mom,” Giddens said.