Let the record show it took 6-foot-9, 269-pound Jeff Graves 15 games to record the first dunk of his major-college basketball career.
“It was my first dunk (and) my first dunk in Allen Fieldhouse,” the former Iowa Western Community College All-American said after Kansas University’s 98-70 men’s basketball rout of Wyoming on Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse. “It felt pretty good.”
Graves, who reported to campus last August at 293 pounds, has been steadily dropping pounds and getting into shape.
Now just under 270, it has become easier for Graves to sky high enough to rattle the rim.
He proved that by accepting a feed from Nick Collison and slamming 21/2 minutes into the second half.
“My teammates tease me because in practice I’ll be dunking. They say, ‘In a game you’ve got to be strong and dunk,”‘ Graves said. “I feel I’m in good shape now and hopefully able to do some things offensively I couldn’t do earlier in the season.”
Graves had 14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in 26 minutes.
“This is why coach recruited him,” KU point guard Aaron Miles said after collecting 14 points, eight assists and five steals. “He did all of these things in junior college, and now it’s all coming back to him. He has a lot of confidence and is playing very well right now. When he hits double-doubles, it’s good for us.”
Graves has two straight double-doubles and three in his last four games.
“He got whacked on the jaw, a shoulder in the jaw. We kidded him seeing if he’s got a glass jaw,” Williams said of Hawkins, who didn’t score in seven minutes.
Hawkins was recruited by Wyoming and had an in-home visit with coach Steve McClain.
“I was kind of out of shape,” Niang said after grabbing four rebounds and plucking two steals while missing five shots and failing to score. “My legs were kind of weak, and my shot was not falling.”
“I mean, it’s the best once since I’ve been here,” Langford said. “Hopefully it will not be the best when my career is finished. I was running the court, looked at Kirk and made eye contact, and he got it to me.”
Of the play, Hinrich said: “I saw he broke free past the last line of defense and was able to get it there. He did a good job of getting up and dunking it.”
Langford, who is recovering from a broken nose, did not wear his protective mask during the game.
“It’s done,” Langford said. “I had the opportunity to wear it in practice to protect it, but I won’t wear it in games.”
Let the record show it took 6-foot-9, 269-pound Jeff Graves 15 games to record the first dunk of his major-college basketball career.
“It was my first dunk (and) my first dunk in Allen Fieldhouse,” the former Iowa Western Community College All-American said after Kansas University’s 98-70 men’s basketball rout of Wyoming on Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse. “It felt pretty good.”
Graves, who reported to campus last August at 293 pounds, has been steadily dropping pounds and getting into shape.
Now just under 270, it has become easier for Graves to sky high enough to rattle the rim.
He proved that by accepting a feed from Nick Collison and slamming 21/2 minutes into the second half.
“My teammates tease me because in practice I’ll be dunking. They say, ‘In a game you’ve got to be strong and dunk,”‘ Graves said. “I feel I’m in good shape now and hopefully able to do some things offensively I couldn’t do earlier in the season.”
Graves had 14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in 26 minutes.
“This is why coach recruited him,” KU point guard Aaron Miles said after collecting 14 points, eight assists and five steals. “He did all of these things in junior college, and now it’s all coming back to him. He has a lot of confidence and is playing very well right now. When he hits double-doubles, it’s good for us.”
Graves has two straight double-doubles and three in his last four games.
“He got whacked on the jaw, a shoulder in the jaw. We kidded him seeing if he’s got a glass jaw,” Williams said of Hawkins, who didn’t score in seven minutes.
Hawkins was recruited by Wyoming and had an in-home visit with coach Steve McClain.
“I was kind of out of shape,” Niang said after grabbing four rebounds and plucking two steals while missing five shots and failing to score. “My legs were kind of weak, and my shot was not falling.”
“I mean, it’s the best once since I’ve been here,” Langford said. “Hopefully it will not be the best when my career is finished. I was running the court, looked at Kirk and made eye contact, and he got it to me.”
Of the play, Hinrich said: “I saw he broke free past the last line of defense and was able to get it there. He did a good job of getting up and dunking it.”
Langford, who is recovering from a broken nose, did not wear his protective mask during the game.
“It’s done,” Langford said. “I had the opportunity to wear it in practice to protect it, but I won’t wear it in games.”
Williams joins 400 club – Kansas 98, Wyoming 70
6Sports video: Kansas rips through Wyoming
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