Senior stardom making comeback at Kansas
photo by: Nick Krug
Kansas guards Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) and Devonte' Graham (4) make conversation during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse.
It’s not all that common for an elite college basketball program to have a pair of seniors as productive as Kansas’ duo of Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk.
The most talented players tend to be underclassmen who play one (Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Josh Jackson, Ben McLemore), two (Darrell Arthur) or three (Brandon Rush, Thomas Robinson, Marcus and Markieff Morris, Mario Chalmers, Cole Aldrich) seasons.
Graham and Svi needed all four years to give themselves the best shot at developing into NBA prospects and they both showed steady improvement throughout their careers. Kansas coach Bill Self appreciates that he never has had to coach attitude and effort with them.
They form the highest-scoring senior tandem to play four seasons for Self at Kansas. Wayne Simien and Keith Langford spent half their careers playing for Roy Williams, half for Self.
A look at the highest-scoring senior tandems to play for Self at Kansas:
| Year | Bill Self senior tandem | Points per game |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 1 – Wayne Simien Keith Langford |
34.7 |
| 2017-18 | 2 – Devonte’ Graham Svi Mykhailiuk |
33.3 |
| 2016-17 | 3 – Frank Mason Landen Lucas |
28.9 |
| 2012-13 | 4 – Jeff Withey Travis Releford |
25.6 |
| 2011-12 | 5 – Tyshawn Taylor Conner Teahan |
21.7 |
| 2015-16 | 6 – Perry Ellis Jamari Traylor |
19.8 |
| 2007-08 | 7 – Darnell Jackson Russell Robinson |
18.5 |
| 2010-11 | 8 – Tyrel Reed Brady Morningstar |
16.8 |
Graham’s season-by-season stats show how more was put on him each season and he proved up to the challenge.
| Devonte’ Graham Year |
Points | Assists | Steals | 3-pt. pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | .425 |
| 2015-16 | 11.3 | 3.7 | 1.4 | .441 |
| 2016-17 | 13.4 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .388 |
| 2017-18 | 17.7 | 7.2 | 1.6 | .423 |
Svi showed similar growth throughout his career.
| Svi Mykhailiuk Year |
Points | Assists | Steals | 3-pt. pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | .288 |
| 2015-16 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | .402 |
| 2016-17 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | .398 |
| 2017-18 | 15.6 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .450 |