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Gransberry Is Indeed South Florida's No. 1

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

Updated: 01/23/2008 12:22 am

TAMPA - One measly minute. OK, Kentrell Gransberry said, maybe it was 90 seconds, but that was the length of his playing career at LSU.

And he hasn't forgotten. That's why, when he transferred to the University of South Florida, he chose to wear jersey No. 1 - for his one minute played at LSU.

"It's a reminder to me," Gransberry said. "Every minute I step out there for the Bulls, I go hard."

After his brief stint in that exhibition game Nov. 10, 2005, for LSU, Gransberry, a highly touted transfer from San Jacinto (Texas) College, decided to leave because he wasn't "part of the rotation." Playing those 90 seconds cost him half a year of eligibility, and he transferred in December 2005 to USF, where he would have 1 1/2 years of eligibility.

Since arriving at USF, No. 1 has definitely been the one.

"I don't know where we'd be without him," USF coach Stan Heath said. "I never would have had a smile this year."

Gransberry is averaging 16.8 points and 10.9 rebounds this season. But in Big East play, he is averaging 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds. Both averages are second-best in the conference.

"He has such great hands," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. "I told our guys if they get on the side of him, he'll score."

After watching Gransberry open the second half with 13 consecutive points Sunday against the Mountaineers, Huggins tried what he called a "last resort" by fronting the 6-foot-9, 270-pound Gransberry with 6-2 guard Joe Mazzulla and putting another defender behind him.

"I was wondering why Mazzulla was standing around me, why is he guarding me?" Gransberry said. "It was like a mosquito back in Louisiana."

Huggins' triangle-and-two defense is one example of how teams have tried to slow Gransberry, who also frequently faces double- and triple-teams.

"You're not going to stop a player of that magnitude," said Louisville assistant Steve Masiello, whose Cards visit the Bulls in the Sun Dome tonight. "You've just got to try to limit what he does well.

"Just his mere strength, it's tough to simulate that. He just physically overpowers a lot of guys. He has unbelievable hands and feet, he gets great post position all the time, and for a guy his size, he plays very smart."

The fact that Gransberry's numbers have increased during Big East play, even when he's drawing more attention, is a testament to his work ethic, Heath said.

"He's got that bull's-eye on his back every game and he still brings it," Heath said.

Added Louisville senior center David Padgett: "He's one of the more underrated players in the country."

Gransberry, who graduated in December with a communications degree, wants to become a commentator or analyst "like Charles Barkley" after his playing days are over.

In high school, Gransberry also played football. He was a wide receiver with 4.5 speed and signed with Louisiana Tech, but he ultimately went to San Jacinto College instead to play basketball.

Despite the increased attention Gransberry has received from defenses, sophomore guard Chris Howard said his teammate hasn't been frustrated.

"The thing that's amazing to me is, he's still producing those things when he's facing double-teams and things of that sort," Howard said. "He's matured from last year, and he knows if you want to be a 'go-to' guy those are the things you have to face."

Gransberry biggest challenge is shaking a free-throw shooting slump. He is only 7-for-23 in the past two games. Heath said Gransberry is a "70 percent" free-throw shooter in practice.

"I can knock 'em down," Gransberry said. "It's a mechanics thing."

Gransberry also is confident the Bulls (10-9, 1-5 Big East) still will make some noise in the Big East race.

"We're still in this thing," Gransberry said. "We need to get some wins and get back in the thick of things. It's kind of like baseball with teams in the wild-card race. You think of how many games back you are instead of how many wins you have."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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