Wright still bleeds crimson and blue

Friday, April 4, 2008

The Jayhawks will have their legion of fans with them in San Antonio. They will also have at least one more rooting for them in New Orleans.

Julian Wright, who left school last season for the NBA and is now a member of the New Orleans Hornets, has kept up on his former team throughout the year. He regularly checks his cell phone or computer for KU scores and still keeps in touch with his former teammates.

Wright said this year’s Kansas team had two characteristics last year’s team had: momentum and 12 more months of know-how, both of which he said could benefit Kansas this weekend.

KANSAN

Kansan file photo

“Another year of experience does wonders,” Wright said.

He added that this year’s team wasn’t satisfied just yet, and it could accomplish more than it already had.

“Playing at a place like Kansas, expectations are always Final Four,” he said. “But I think this year we’re really equipped. Everyone’s bought into the system and playing unselfish ball.”

Wright is in a position to possibly win a championship himself. The Hornets are a lock for the NBA Playoffs and are battling for the first place seed in the Western Conference. Since Wright left college, he has taken his game to the perimeter and plays small forward in the pros, although he has played sparingly this season, averaging three points and two rebounds a game.

Wright said he had no regrets about leaving school early and wished his old team well.

“I bleed crimson and blue,” he said.

— Edited by Jared Duncan

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