A homecoming, of sorts: Game vs. DePaul brings KU's Self, Wright, Collins back to state

Bill Self hasn't patrolled a sideline in Illinois since vacatinghis coaching post in Champaign in April 2003.

But that's not to say the Kansas coach hasn't been working thestate.

"This is the first time I'm back coaching," Self said of hisSaturday visit to Allstate Arena with the No. 5 Jayhawks for a gameagainst

DePaul (1 p.m., ESPNU, 670-AM). "But we've been recruiting there.We want to have a presence in the area from a recruiting standpoint.

"But I'm also a good friend of [DePaul coach] Jerry [Wainwright],and we thought it would be a great game for Kansas and, we hope, forDePaul."

The Blue Demons have lost all seven previous meetings against theJayhawks, but this game will carry more significance than ever forthe visitors.

Illinois continues to be fertile recruiting territory for Self,whose roster includes sophomore forward Julian Wright of Homewood-Flossmoor and freshman guard Sherron Collins of Crane. Wrightarrives off a 21-point, 10-rebound performance in Kansas' overtimeupset of reigning NCAA champion and then-No. 1 Florida, a game thatearned him Big 12 player of the week honors.

This will be as close to home as Wright and Collins get allseason -- no small reason why Self scheduled the game.

"Tickets," he said, laughing. "That's the big issue with them.They came to me a month ago worrying about how many they could get.I know it will be a lot of fun for them."

The Demons understand that, too.

"You always want to play at home against kids you grew up withand have bragging rights in the summertime," said forward KarronClarke, a New York native. "You also get to see your friends andfamily who don't always get to see you play, so it's good to gohome. We know they'll have a lot of fans there rooting for them, andthat will boost their confidence."

As if the 6-8 Wright needs a confidence injection. He's averaging13 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and two blocked shots.

"I played against him in AAU ball and in a tournament inIndiana," said DePaul forward Wilson Chandler, who's likely to spendmost of the game trying to contain Wright. "He's a great player andvery versatile. Of course, he's even stronger now than in highschool."

For a DePaul team struggling at 2-4, facing the 6-1 Jayhawkswould seem to be a one-sided challenge. Self believes differently.

"They're like us," Self said, mindful that his team also lost athome to unranked Oral Roberts. "If you look at them, they werefabulous last year in their game against Syracuse, and they returnthe core of those players. I love Chandler, and I recruited SammyMejia at Illinois.

"They're a team that will get better and better and by the end ofthe season be a postseason team. They have the personnel and thecoach."

Self pointed out that Wainwright's Richmond team upset theJayhawks in Lawrence, Kan., three seasons ago. But Wainwright saidthat team was different than the Demons, though he doesn't discounthis current talent.

"I had three senior guards on that team, and one was a fifth-year senior," Wainwright said. "That week, we won on Saturday atTemple, Thursday at Kansas and Sunday at Xavier. They could reallyshoot the ball."

Shooting is only one of the problems the Demons are strugglingwith after a 1-2 showing at the Maui Invitational. The losses cameto then-No. 20 Kentucky and surging Purdue.

"But they took Kentucky to the last 30 seconds," said Self, whoreceived a five-year contract extension Thursday that increases hissalary to more than $1.3 million a year. "Obviously, their coachwants to see the team that played against Syracuse and Kentucky toshow up."

A capacity crowd will be showing up for the game, as well as fora tribute to Ray Meyer, the legendary DePaul coach who died in Marchat 92.

"It will be a packed and emotional arena," Self said. "I havesome friends there still -- but probably not near the number who areupset with me."

tginnetti@suntimes.com