Welcome to our online chat with Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self.

The chat took place on Wednesday, October 12, at 2:45 PM and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Moderator: Hi and welcome to our chat today. I'm Andy Samuelson the online sports editor for KUsports.com and I will be today's chat moderator. Today we are joined by Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self. Thanks Bill for taking time out of your busy schedule, with this the week of Late Night and everything, to join with our KUsports.com readers this afternoon.

Bill Self: No problem Andy. It's great to be chatting with so many excited KUsports.com readers.

Moderator: Bill, with the season just about a month away, Late Night on Friday, and your team's annual media day tomorrow afternoon, I'm sure things are pretty exciting right now in your life. Could you give us a quick overview of your anticipation and expectation of the upcoming season.

Bill Self: I know there's definite excitement within the program, I just hope there is as much excitement outside of it too. When you lose the players and the kind of careers that we did last year, there's that unknown of what will happen next. But Kansas basketball is bigger than any one player and those seniors, Aaron (Miles), Keith (Langford), Mike (Lee) and Wayne (Simien) would be the first to tell you that. We got good young players to replace those guys. The problem is they are young and unknown. But it's definitely an exciting time right now.

Moderator: Lets get to some reader questions.

Danny, Wichita, Kan.: With all of the diverse talent you have now with the four freshmen and sophomores, how will KU's style of play change this year?

Bill Self: It's exciting for me to figure out what mode we want to play in, considering our personnel. How do we get three tall wings on the floor at the same time? How do we utilize speed the best? How do we get driving angles? There's probably more to it this year because there are so many more ways we can go, where as in the past we were pretty much set on how we were going to play with the personnel that we had then.

Jay, Omaha, Neb.: Who has improved the most over the off-season.

Bill Self: I think our fans will see the most improvement from our two big guys, Sasha (Kaun) and C.J. (Giles) I really think they both had great springs and summers. They're really ready to carry the load. Are either one of them going to average 20 points a game? No. But they can both challenge for double-figure scoring and be great post defenders and rebounders.

Jim, Merriam, Kan.: As Jayhawk fans we often have unrealistic expectations. A national championship is always the goal, as it should be. To help keep our feet on the ground, can you briefly describe some of the growing pains that we should expect this season?

Bill Self: One of the great things about coaching at a place like Kansas is there are expectations. When you have expectations that probably means you have good players, and we think we have good players. But these are 18-year-old guys competing against guys that our 22-year-olds were playing last year. It's not going to happen overnight. It's going to be a process. As fans, coaches, and players, we're going to have enjoy the journey.

Chad McKenzie, Jeonju, South Korea: Has there been any talk about putting the KU students closer to the action? New lights, new scoreboard, new midcourt student section, huh?

Bill Self: To my knowledge there has been no mention of moving the students closer. We have the best students in America as it is. And even in the end zone sections they'll continue to be that. The new lights, the new scoreboard, these are the things that the students and all the fans will really enjoy. They will create an even more exciting atmosphere that will help the fans enjoy the game even more.

Billy, Bartlesville, Okla.: What would you say is the most important coaching attribute you learned playing for Eddie Sutton?

Bill Self: A lot of people think I played for coach Sutton but I actually never did. Heck I was out of college five years before I ever worked for coach Sutton. I think the things that he instills in his teams is to make it hard for the opponent to score and don't beat yourself. Those are positive characteristics of any championship-caliber team, regardless of the sport.

Gary, Shawnee, Kan.: Not including KU, who do you see as the favorite to win the Big 12 this season?

Bill Self: KU included, Kansas would not be the favorite to win the league. The favorite in our league is going to be Texas. They have the best returning guys. When you talk about Daniel Gibson, who was a potential lottery pick, and P.J. Tucker, who was the best player on the U.S. team that won gold last year, I believe in Canada. Then you have LaMarcus Aldridge, who is another potential lottery pick and a few other guys -- you're talking about a selection of guys there that will put them as a preseason top 2 or 3 team.

Bill, Denver, Colo.: When you're recruiting, is there any difficulty getting over perceptions about Kansas, i.e -- it's flat, it's boring, it's in the middle of nowhere, etc., when talking to players who have never seen the campus or been to Lawrence? Or does the program sell itself because of the history, the coaches and players and the success?

Bill Self: I think recruiting is difficult wherever you're at. Tulsa had its own unique obstacles, Oral Roberts had its own unique obstacles, Illinois had its own unique obstacles. Kansas has its obstacles as well, but the positive is we can be in the top-five or top-10 of most recruits list. But the negative is we have to go in to someone else's back yard to get them. I've heard the stigma that Kansas is flat, and I've even made the joke that guys ride their horses to class. But the truth is Kansas is hilly, there are trees, water, beautiful landscape. The city is great, and you're 35 minutes away from Kansas City. Kansas is just about the best of the sells.

Moderator: Coach, looks like one of our readers has a question about one of your favorite foods.

A.J., Lawrence, Kan.: I know you're a big fan of barbecue, what is your favorite BBQ place in Lawrence?

Bill Self: I like all barbecue. I definitely like Biggs, I like Granddaddy's here in town, I like Vermont Street. I like Quicks. But I really liked Pat's (Blue Rib'N Barbeque) before it shut down. And Gates and Arthur Bryant's are great up in KC. I'll eat barbecue anytime. It makes no difference to me who prepares it -- I'll eat it.

Moderator: Looks like we have time for just a couple more questions.

Kurt, Benton, Ky.: Between the four freshmen, who do you see having the biggest impact on KU basketball?

Bill Self: It changes daily on who we think is prepared to play. We've gone through periods of time where it's definitely Julian (Wright). We've gone through periods of time where Micah (Downs) keep coming and is catching up on people. And it looks like he may be the most ready to play. There's been times where Mario (Chalmers) has shown flashes he's the most ready. And certainly there's been times where Brandon (Rush) has done the same thing. All four of them will have an impact. We got to get at least two of them playing great at the same time.

Terry, Leavenworth, Kan.: Do you think that the seniors have to step into leadership roles this season?

Bill Self: I think all three seniors, Stephen (Vinson) included, can provide leadership. Really Christian (Moody) and Jeff (Hawkins) have to step up and be much more vocal and provide leadership in a way that they never have before. The young kids, Russell (Robinson), Jeremy (Case), Mario (Chalmers), Julian (Wright) have to become leaders. But they won't become leaders until they become confidant with what's going on. It's going to take some time, so we'll depend on the fans to be patient.

Moderator: Well that's going to do it for our chat today with Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self. Thanks a lot coach and good luck Friday at Late Night. Also a big thanks to our KUsports.com readers for all their input into this chat and there excitement for Kansas University athletics.

Bill Self: Thanks Andy, and thanks to all the KU basketball fans out there. I'll see you at Late Night.