Volume 128 Issue 48
kansan.com
Monday, November 17, 2014
COMMENTARY
Graham shines makes case for starting spot
By Kyle Pappas @KylePap
During Kansas basketball's media day prior to the season, coach Bill Self said guard Devonte' Graham is "as popular as anybody on campus" and "everybody likes him."
Just one official game into the season, and it's easy to see why.
The freshman from North Carolina has an infectious attitude; he's one of the Jayhawks most animated players and can routinely be seen talking to himself and teammates on the court. Self said he was Kansas' most consistent defender, following the team's win against Emporia State, and he hustles like he's battling for a starting spot — likely because he is.
"He'll definitely fight for starting minutes, there's no question about that," Self said at media day.
Though sophomore Frank Mason got the starting nod at point against University of California, Santa Barbara on Friday night, Graham's stock has risen as much as any Jayhawk has over the past couple weeks.
He should have the opportunity to crack the starting lineup at some point this season.
Though it's early in the year, thus far, Graham has looked every part of the point guard that Self's teams have clearly lacked over the past four seasons: levelheaded, consistent and unselfish.
Instead of fouling or simply stepping aside, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Graham firmly planted his feet and braced for impact.
After strong performances in both of Kansas' exhibition games — he averaged 9.5 points and three assists Graham followed up with a team-high 14 points against UC Santa Barbara on Friday night.
The epitome of Graham's play came on a superb defensive play midway through the second half. After a Kansas miscue on offense, 6-foot-8, 265 pound UCSB forward Alan Williams ended up with the ball, barrelling down the court.
Only Graham remained in his path to the basket.
He was 5-for-8 from the field and made three consecutive jumps over a one-and-a-half-minute span to spark a crucial Jayhawk run in the first half.
But limiting Graham to the numbers in his stat line doesn't do his play justice.
"Man, he came in and stepped up, and that's what we need from our freshman," junior forward Perry Ellis said. "He did a great job, and we're looking for him to keep doing that."
Charge, Kansas' ball.
"It felt good, afterward."
Graham joked. "Definitely was [one of my favorite plays], had to be; it was a big momentum swing."
Mason has been impressive early on as well, but it's clear Graham is more of a point guard — more of a true court.
SEE COLUMN PAGE 7
Senior linebacker Ben Heeney tackles TCU's Aaron Green during his last home game on Saturday. Heeney led the team in tackles with 11 and leads the country in solo tackles per game
Ben Heeney highlights a special senior day for Kansas football
SHANE JACKSON
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonShane3
It's the oldest story in the book. One day you are a bright-eyed 18 year old just entering college. The next, you are forced to say goodbye before you know it.
For 21 Kansas football seniors, Saturday marked the last time they would play a game in Memorial Stadium.
"I told them it's a day they will always remember," interim head coach Clint Bowen said. "Everyone who plays sports remembers their last game. It gets emotional for them. We have some
remarkable seniors in this class."
But there was one senior who was a lot harder to say goodbye to than the rest. One of the best linebackers in Kansas history put on the blue jayhawks jersey for the last time in front of 30,889 fans in Saturday's 34-30 loss to No. 4 TCU.
"It still hasn't sunk in yet," senior linebacker Ben Heeney said. "A lot of emotions are involved and watching the senior video was tough. It's tough knowing that is the last time I will play here."
Heeney's senior campaign has capped an already stellar resume as the Kansas middle linebacker. Only a few weeks ago, he logged 21 tackles against Texas Tech — the feat that marked the season high was also the most by a player from Kansas since 1979.
Coming into the game Heeney led the country in solo tackles per game with eight. He had topped the century mark for tackles the second
time of his career through the first nine games of this season.
first nine games of this season. Leading one of the best teams in the country all the way to the last two and a half minutes in the third quarter on his senior night was just the icing on the cake.
With Heeney leading the way, the Jayhawks played their most complete game performance in his time here, going down to the wire with the conference's best.
"The TCU players came up to us after the game and told us that we played our [tails] off," Heeney said. "They told us don't let anyone tell you that we don't belong because we do."
Although his performance was relatively quiet by "Heeney standards," the linebacker from Hutchinson wound up leading the team in tackles with 11.
"It was pretty close, probably so." Heeney said after being asked if this was the best Kansas has played in his career.
The defense in particular stood out against one of the better offenses in the country. The lajayhawks held a team that averaged 47 points a game to 30. They gave up just 330 yards of total offense to a team that averages 550.
"We played high level for a reason," senior defensive back JaCorey Shepherd said. "It was senior day and we wanted to leave our stamp."
Heeney couldn't disagree.
All afternoon seniors stepped up when it mattered most. Shepherd recorded two interceptions, although one got called back. Defensive back Dexter McDonald refused to give up big plays.
"We believe we are the best corners in the conference," Shepherd said.
Heeney couldn't disagree.
"I wouldn't want to throw at them." Heeney said.
Senior Victor Simmons forced a key fumble late in the game and senior Tedarius Johnson recovered it. Even senior punter Trevor Pardula forced a turnover on a kickoff
to receive a roaring approval from the sideline.
Several offensive players also got in on the mix. Senior tight end Jimmay Mundine finished with seven catches for 137 yards and a touchdown with the most receiving yards by a Kansas tight end since 1974.
"It was disappointing to lose on senior day," Mundine said. "I really hate losing."
It's hard to put a label on these 21 men. After all this is a group that hasn't won double-digit games in the past four years.
Perhaps what these men will be remembered for is not based on their win-loss record, but what they have done for the program. As fans have seen recently, this program is beginning to show some light.
"We are starting to make an identity here at Kansas," Heeney said.
These 21 men have had a lot to do with that.
— Edited by Yu Kyung Lee
Kansas overcomes UCSB, Alan Williams
BLAIR SHEADE
@RealBlairSheady
The Kansas frontcourt had a tough matchup against University of California, Santa Barbara senior center Alan Williams on Friday, but came out on top as the Jayhawks (1-0) defeated the Gauchos (0-1) 69-59.
"I thought we'dve'g guarded [Williams] better," Kansas coach Bill Self said.
Williams kept the Gauchos in the game all night by scoring and playing pressure defense against Kansas' top four frontcourt players, juniors Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor, sophomore Landen Lucas and freshman Cliff Alexander.
Freshman guard Devonte' Graham is helped up by teammates after taking a charge in the second half. Kansas defeated UCSB 69-59.
Last season, Williams was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, and he was the same player Friday. Williams scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
Williams said Kansas rotating the three "big dudes" was tough because he always played against a fresh body. Williams didn't make it look
He weighs about 265 pounds," Self said. "He's got great touch and if he can get to his left shoulder, which we let him way too much, he's great. I can understand why there was a lot of NBA teams here to watch him."
Self said Williams was a hard player to guard because of his size and experience.
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
tough recording his first double-double of the season.
The experience of Williams showed early facing the freshman Alexander. Williams forced Alexander out of the game by pumpfaking and forcing Alexander to foul. Alexander played only four minutes in the first half due to his foul trouble.
Traylor matched up against Williams most of the night, and Williams scored 14 of his 22 points against Traylor, but Self said Traylor played the best on Friday. The 10 rebounds Traylor grabbed overshadowed the points he gave up against Williams.
"jamari [Traylor] had a harder night to rebound because he was guarding the big fellow," Self said. "His job was to block him off, even if [Williams] didn't go after the
Williams' defense caused a lot of problems for the Kansas frontcourt in the first half, finishing with two blocks before halftime. All his blocks turned into a Gauchos basket.
The one player who gave Williams the most trouble was Lucas. During the seven minutes Lucas played in the first half, he held Williams to two points, and the Jayhawks went on a 9-0 run. Kansas took a 31-23 lead into halftime.
ball so someone else could go get [the ball]."
"He plays with a lot of energy and I thought he did a real good job." Ellis said.
The block party ended in the second half when the Kansas frontcourt discovered a way around Williams — take jump shots from the free-throw line. Alexander found that out earlier in the second half. After only scoring one point in the first half, Alexander went on a hot streak, scoring eight points in four minutes. Alexander took two jump shots from the free-throw line, and Self said he was wary of Alexander's shot-attempts.
The Jayhawks will take this victory into the fourth annual Champions Classic against Kentucky on Tuesday. Ellis said there is a lot to work
"No, no, no — it was a good shot, Cliff," Self said. "Cliff [Alexander] acted like he
knew what he was doing when he took [the jump shots]. I thought Cliff did some good things."
on before the team takes on Kentucky, but they are ready for the Wildcats.
"It's two great teams going at it, and we are going to try to go out there and do the best we can," Ellis said.
Edited by Drew Parks
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