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Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Wright earns another first-team nod

Kansas University forward selected for Associated Press All-Big 12 honors

By Gary Bedore

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Kansas University sophomore Julian Wright, who was named to the coaches' all-Big 12 team Sunday, made it a clean sweep Monday when he was tapped first-team all-league by the Associated Press.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Chicagoan was the only first-team Jayhawk AP honoree. Sophomore Brandon Rush, who was named first-team by the coaches, was selected second team by the AP writers' panel.

"I like the honor," Wright, who averages 12.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, said before practice Monday at Allen Fieldhouse, "but we're just trying to build toward other team goals right now. It's not like I just have been blowing anybody away with any stats. I just feel I can be a major contributor hopefully in any stretch of the game and any statistical category.

"At the beginning of the year, coach stressed individual honors come when the team does well, so I'm just happy the team has done well," Wright added.

Wright was joined on the first team by unanimous picks Kevin Durant (Texas) and Acie Law IV (Texas A&M), plus Jarrius Jackson (Texas Tech) and Mario Boggan (Oklahoma State).

Rush was the top vote-getter on the second team. He was joined by Aleks Maric (Nebraska), D.J. Augustin (Texas), Cartier Martin (Kansas State) and Joseph Jones (A&M).

KU's Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins were honorable-mention selections.

"I think it's a great accomplishment to be on that team with Julian," Rush said of the coaches' squad. "I feel pretty good. It doesn't matter what team you are on. As long as we win, that's all that matters to me."

Audio clips

2006-07 March 5 KU weekly presser

The AP's third team consists of Stefhon Hannah (Missouri), Nate Carter (Oklahoma), David Hoskins (K-State), JamesOn Curry (Oklahoma State) and Martin Zeno (Texas Tech).

KU coach Bill Self was happy for Wright.

"If you look at our team from a most valuable standpoint, not from point production, the defensive efforts and some assignments he's drawn, he's done a good job there," Self said. "His value to me is so different. He affects how teams have to play us. He is so good against the zone and such a good interior passer. Without question he's our best rebounder. He has really developed.

"He does so many things to impact the game. When he had the game against Florida (21 points, 10 rebounds) it spoiled us saying he should do this on a consistent basis. That's like saying Durant should score 20 every 12 minutes, too."

Kansas Jayhawk Julian Wright honored today

KU sophomore Julian Wright has earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in both major polls, today. Julian is the only Jayhawk to do so.

Of Rush being second team, Self said: "If I was voting I'd put Julian and Brandon both first team. There are some good players in our league. It'd be tough to decide who goes on what team. I'm sure my opinion would be different from a lot of writers and coaches.

"I thought he'd average more points (than his 13.7 average). I didn't think we would average more points. You average 81 in the league, that's pretty good for a team whose leading scorer is averaging 13.7. It means we've got balance."

The Associated Press' Doug Tucker, who organizes and compiles the results of the balloting, contributed to this report.

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Comments

justinryman (anonymous) says...

No just to keep Julian one more year. ESPN.com has a draft generator and it shows almost everytime Julian going to the Bucks at either the 4th pick or the 5th pick overall. Really would like to see him stay, but then again I don't think I could turn down the #4 pick and all that money either.

Either way only can wish him the best and just hope that thier are more honors in the post season for him.

March 6, 2007 at 6:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkseminole (anonymous) says...

Come on anyone that drafts anyone on our team with a lottery pick has lost their mind. Julian has the potential to be great, but we all know he has no jumper and isnt a very good post player so i dont know why any team would want to pick him that high. He needs college more than anyone, i mean i guess you can learn in the pro's. Rush is prob more NBA ready but he doesnt have that mean streak in him yet, plus he doesnt post up.

March 6, 2007 at 7:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BABBOY (anonymous) says...

Julian would benfit from one more year and still looks kind of thin in terms of his frame to play in the NBA without a jump shot. But, if they are going to pick him in the 4th or 5th spot, avoiding injury and going makes sense.

Rush has hurt his chances this year for being drafted.

Nobody else has a chance this year.

March 6, 2007 at 8:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

danimal33 (anonymous) says...

Julian has said that he wants to stay for another year and finish his degree anyway. He is on pace to graduate in three years. Let's hope he sticks to that plan.
Rock Chalk!

March 6, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jacobpaul81 (anonymous) says...

Why are you guys wasting your time discussing Julian leaving early. He's said multiple times he would be at Kansas a minimum of 3 years, no matter how high he would get selected in the draft, because he wants to finish college (and he plans on doing that in 3 years).

The only person you could even think of talking about going in the draft is Brandon, and something tells me, he's got one more year as well.

March 6, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Because Jacobpaul... we have a bunch of genius pro scouts that know it all.

March 6, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

If they all return next year, KU will stand a good chance of going undefeated in the regular season. When you add Cole Aldrich to that rotation of big men, we'll have the one thing that we lack at times this year: forward/center scoring depth. I'm curious if D.J. Augustin will leave Texas, ESPN has him possibly going as well. In the end, I couldn't be mad if Julian were drafted 4th, but hopefully he'll go to a team other than the Grizzlies, Bobcats or Bucks. I couldn't watch those teams play. The Sixers or Celtics would be interesting though.

March 6, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bigroj (anonymous) says...

I'd bet that Julian, Brandon and Mario could all leave this year and get drafted in the first round. There isn't much out there as far as talent/potential that these three have. Julian would go simply based on potential - I mean, I've seen some guys like Tyrese from LSU last year that simply had a 'decent' tourney and voila, they're a hot commodity. It really depends on how they play down the stretch, in the tournament. Joakim could of been a lottery pick last year and he's struggling this year to average 12pts... I think it's a 'crap-shoot' a little bit and we won't really know until we see how well these guys play toward the end of the month.

March 6, 2007 at 9:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Good point about Augustin Jaminrawk...

I think he could benefit a lot from playing on the team as the head go-to guy for a year. If he does well without Durant on the team, his stock will go up even more. Then again, not having another superstar on his team could expose him a little bit. Interesting dilema for him after the season...

March 6, 2007 at 9:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

I think Augustin will be a great player in a few years, but the NBA will ruin him if he leaves this year. By his Junior year he could be a legitimate top 10 pick with a chance to start on an NBA team right away. Anyone who saw his decision making in the Texas A&M game towards the end, know he isn't ready.

Durant is the only Big XII underclassmen really ready at this point.

March 6, 2007 at 11:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmwskywalk (anonymous) says...

bigroj.....don't make that bet. You'll be a poor man!

March 6, 2007 at 11:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

Julian has said he will stay (3 yrs) in order to finish his degree.

Brandon benefits from having a brother that flamed because he left early, and one that has made it (and helps support him) because he stayed longer. He has improved tremendously over last year (regardless of stats), which is partially attributable to working out with Kareem (NBA-wise) last summer (being forced to go left, etc).

Brandon doesn't have a mean streak, and realistically isn't likely to develop one. He is likely to continue to develop his game thru the summer and next year - unless he has a monster March complete with 3 more net cutting parties.

The bad news is that we could realistically lose 8 next year - 5 Sr's & 3 Jr's (?Soph's?). The good news is that Coach Self is stockpiling talent as preferred walk-ons. Regardless though, we'll need a monster class next year.

March 6, 2007 at 3:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

milehighhawker (anonymous) says...

Can someone please help me out on this Teahan kid, when did this happen, where is he getting a scholarship or is he just walking on, I see that he is a 4* recruit, what's up?

March 6, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chrismikehead (anonymous) says...

Just read elsewhere that Rick Barnes has been named AP Big XII Coach of the Year. Someone needs to explain to me how these writers can watch Texas play so often (which they did, to see Durant) and even think about voting him above B. Gillespie or HCBS. Durant would have posted even better numbers, and Texas probably would have won more games, if Barnes would run some plays for him and tell his guards to quit jacking up shots and feed the big man. Oh yeah, maybe you should ask the kids to D up every now and then, while you are at it. Between this and that "KU goes on a run after Durant goes down" column, the AP has lost a bit of my respect this week.

March 6, 2007 at 3:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

Teahan will be a walk on. I don't know much about him but I don't think he will be big factor for the team. I don't mean to be mean I just think we will be loaded

March 6, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

missKU (anonymous) says...

Go VOTE for Russ @ http://www.cousyaward.com/index.asp
Acie Law has 66% of the vote
Russ has 15%
so go vote!!!!!!!!!!!

March 6, 2007 at 4:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JJHawq (anonymous) says...

Teahan will be a very very good walkon. that will help practices....

don't anticipate aldrich will be a scoring postman as a frosh - probably not going to happen. maybe as his career develops - but let's try to keep this one in town for a few years. ku fans tend to have un-realistic expectations for 7 foot white guys as freshmen...

as for the draft - this is the deepest draft in several years - we don't have a first rounder on the team beyond Julian (who is coming back). Rush may go - but it is as a 2nd rounder. He may test the waters then back out.... i expect as much. He'll see how the workouts go - then decide he needs to come back. or he might leave. i don't know - i'm just guessing.

arthur may be a marginal late first rounder off of potential - but that is a big stretch. i would not be surprised to see everyone back (which is what I've been saying since the season ended last year - fwiw.)

March 6, 2007 at 5:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bigroj (anonymous) says...

Poor man or not, I'm sticking to my guns. It's easy to say you won't go pro, it's another thing to turn down 7 zeros when it's stuck in your face. Only time will tell...

March 6, 2007 at 5:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jsquared29 (anonymous) says...

Everyone who can stay needs to stay because starting next year, the Kansas and Kansas State games will actually be a rivalry. Kansas and Kansas State will be the teams to beat next year in the Big 12.

March 6, 2007 at 5:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

It would be really cool if nobody bolted early for the NBA, then we would lose nothing and gain a lot and be everybody's favorite to win it all in 2008.

March 6, 2007 at 7:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )