Kansas' Julian Wright and Bill Self Nab NABC Postseason Honors

March 8, 2007

<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas men’s basketball garnered two more accolades by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as sophomore forward Julian Wright has been named NABC third-team All-American and Bill Self the NABC District 12 Coach of the Year.

Last week Wright and teammate Brandon Rush were selected to the NABC District 12 First Team. A Chicago, Heights, Ill., native, Wright is third in the Big 12 rebounding with an 8.1 average to compliment his 12.0 scoring average. He posted his fifth double-double of the season in KU’s Big 12-clinching victory against Texas last Saturday with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Wright, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, has pulled down 12 boards in five previous games this season.

This is the second straight season Self has been named the NABC District 12 Coach of the Year. He has guided Kansas to each of the last three Big 12 regular-season titles, including an outright championship with a 14-2 record in 2006-07. Defending league tournament champ, Kansas enters the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City 27-4 and ranked No. 2 nationally. Self is 99-28 in his fourth year at KU and 306-133 in his 14th season overall.

2006-07 Kansas Men’s Basketball Accolades

Team

-Preseason Big 12 No. 1

-Preseason No. 1 by Sports Illustrated

-Las Vegas Invitational champions

-Big 12 Conference Regular-Season Champions

Bill Self

-NABC District 12 Coach of the Year

Darrell Arthur

-All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Big 12)

-Big 12 All-Rookie Team (Big 12)

Mario Chalmers

-Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

-Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team

-Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year

-All-Big 12 Third Team (Big 12)

-All-Big 12 HM (AP)

-Big 12 All-Defensive Team (Big 12)

-Big 12 All-Defense Team (media)

Sherron Collins

-All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Big 12/AP)

-Big 12 All-Rookie Team (Big 12)

-Big 12 All-Freshman Team (media)

Sasha Kaun

-Academic All-Big 12 First Team

Russell Robinson

-Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team

-Bob Cousy Award Finalist

-Big 12 All-Defensive Team (Big 12)

-Big 12 All-Defense Team (media)

Brandon Rush

-Preseason Associated Press All-American team

-Preseason All-Big 12 Player of the Year

-Preseason All-Big 12

-Preseason candidate for John R. Wooden Award

-Preseason top 50 for Naismith Award

-Midseason Wooden Award All-American Team

-Nasmith Award Finalist

-NABC District 12 First Team

-All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12)

-All-Big 12 Second Team (AP)

-USBWA District VI

Julian Wright

-Preseason All-Big 12 Player of the Year

-Preseason All-Big 12

-Preseason candidate for John R. Wooden Award

-Preseason top 50 for Naismith Award

-Las Vegas Invitational Most Valuable Player

-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 27)

-ESPN.com National Player of the Week (Nov. 27)

-NABC District 12 First Team

-All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12/AP)

-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (March 5)

-USBWA District VI

-NABC All-American Third Team