Kansas basketball: Devonte Graham is best in the Big 12
By Stan Unruh
Devonte Graham led the Kansas basketball team to victory over Oklahoma Tuesday night. The senior showed why he is the best player in the Big 12.
There was one player who stood out in Tuesday’s college basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse. ESPN doesn’t hype him as they have a freshman from Norman. Devonte Graham totally outplayed the Sooners point guard. Graham showed the nation what Kansas basketball fans know. He is the top player in the conference and one of the very best in all of college basketball this season.
In early October, the Big 12 Conference named Graham their preseason Player of the Year. As a matter of fact, that is one of the few honors Frank Mason didn’t earn his senior season. That was just one of many preseason honors Graham received. He continues to live up to the recognition. Last week, Graham earned a spot among the 30 players named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Late season team. Only two other Jayhawks, Mason and Danny Manning have won this award.
Monday night, Graham dominated the game on both ends of the court. He held the nation’s leading scorer to his worst offensive night of the season. Thanks to Graham’s defensive effort, the Sooner point guard hit only 3 of 13 shots. As a matter of fact, Jayhawk fans saw Graham do the same thing against another Sooner star two seasons ago.
Graham’s teammates played so well Monday night, Coach Self allowed him to take about 5 minutes off. Graham never sits. In his 35 minutes against OU, the Raleigh, North Carolina native scored the game’s first bucket on the way 23 points. His five three pointers came on an 8-17 shooting night. It was the perfect night to find his shooting touch. He’ll need it again Saturday in Lubbock.
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Graham is ready for a great finish
If there was any debate, Graham ended the discussion Monday night. His dominate performance to lead the Jayhawks to victory said it all. In the past week, he has average 17 points, 6 assists and committed only four turnovers in wins over Iowa State, West Virginia and OU. He is not just the best player in Crimson and Blue. Graham with his million-dollar smile is the best player in the nation’s best basketball conference. The next few weeks are going to be exciting for him and Kansas basketball fans.