Grimes’ big play for MU leads to honors as MVP

KG for MVP.

You might expect to hear that in the NBA, with star Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Sunday, that meant Missouri center Kalen Grimes.

Grimes, whom teammates simply call “KG”, was voted the most valuable player of the John Thompson Foundation Classic after averaging 14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds over the tournament’s three games. That same Grimes that averaged only 2.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 11.5 minutes per game last year. But last year was last year.

Still, Grimes admits he surprised even himself with his improvement.

“If someone would have told me last year I’d win the MVP of a tournament this year, I would have been like ‘Really?’” Grimes said. “But it feels great. It’s my first, and I hope to get many more.”

Grimes posted his second career double-double Sunday after his first one came Saturday. He scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, five on the offensive end. He also had three blocks.

Grimes was often the only answer to the Stetson Hatters’ zone defense.

“He’s getting in a position to where he can score,” coach Mike Anderson said. “That’s the key.”

All tournament Grimes dominated down low. No team had the size to match up with him. Anderson made sure Grimes was aware of his advantage.

“Coach kinda told me something,” Grimes said. “He said, ‘You’re 6-9, you’re 260. There’s no way anybody should be stopping you down there. Don’t worry about scoring. Just go get every rebound and the points will come.’ And I just grab the offensive rebounds and put them back. That’s been my main focus of this tournament.”

Grimes is down from 278 pounds last year. The dropped weight has made him more of a fastbreak threat in Anderson’s uptempo offense, but a worry is it would make the Tigers’ only center less aggressive. So far, that has not been the case.

Another concern was his foul trouble. Anderson wanted to make sure Grimes wasn’t shying away from contact just to avoid picking up a foul.

“He’s playing basketball. He’s having fun,” Anderson said. “And I think that’s the biggest difference. He’s not worried about fouling. He’s just playing. If he fouls, then he fouls.”

On Sunday, Missouri’s big man didn’t pick up a single foul. He did, however, step up in the lane to take a charge. Necessary or not, his big frame fell to the floor upon contact.

“If I stand up after he runs into me, I won’t get the charge call,” Grimes said, laughing. “I know not many guys can actually knock me down, but I have to get the call, you know.”

The guard play of Missouri has also been crucial for Grimes’ success in the early part of the season. The Tigers are overloaded at the guard position, but Sunday that worked in their favor. Shots weren’t falling early, but the guards’ ability to penetrate the lane helped break up the zone defense.

“We got some great guards this year that can find me,” Grimes said. “It’s great playing with these guys this year because they can get me the ball down low. It makes it a lot of fun.”

After going 4-of-12 from the free-throw line Saturday, Grimes also improved those numbers a bit Sunday by shooting 2-of-3 from the line.

“That’s pretty good for KG,” Anderson said.

Sophomore guard Matt Lawrence and junior guard Stefhon Hannah also made the John Thompson Foundation Classic All-Tournament Team.