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Friday, March 9, 2007

Brown proud of KU’s Self

Jayhawk coach could earn 100th victory at Kansas today against Sooners

By Gary Bedore

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Oklahoma City — Still physically fit at age 66, Hall of Fame basketball coach Larry Brown postponed his morning workout a half hour to praise one of his favorite pupils, Bill Self.

"I'm in love with the guy," Brown said of fourth-year Kansas University coach Self, who today against Oklahoma tries for a significant milestone - his 100th victory against 28 losses since returning to Mount Oread.

"I'm really proud of him. Last night, I'm sitting with a guy who has won 19 straight games, and we're both bragging about Bill," Brown added of another member of his coaching tree - Memphis' John Calipari.

Brown is in Tennessee spending the weekend with Calipari as the ex-Jayhawk assistant coach's Tigers (27-3) compete in the Conference USA tournament.

"The years I spent at Kansas were as good as any I've had," noted Brown, executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers, who was head coach at KU from 1983 to '88. "I follow KU closely. I know Bill's the head coach, and what he stands for makes me pretty darn proud, knowing he worked with me."

Brown gave Self his first break. He hired him straight out of Oklahoma State as a graduate assistant for the 1985-86 season.

Though Self downplays his role on the staff - "I read USA Today every day and let coach know if there was anything worth reading in it," Self cracked - Brown says he was more important than that.

"He worked my camp and then worked for me. I don't look at it as him being low on the totem poll. He was bright, great with the players," Brown said.

"Working for Eddie (Sutton, OSU) was huge in his development. Watching him go to Oral Roberts and Tulsa and Illinois ... to think of where those programs were when he left them is really good.

"At KU ... he's proven to be a perfect fit. I hated to see Roy (Williams) leave, but I felt we got a tremendous coach and person to replace him. It's obvious the program is as good as any in the country and is moving forward."

A North Carolina graduate, Brown also is very close to ex-Jayhawk coach Williams, who was one of Brown's assistants on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

"I think it's a phenomenal job," Brown said of KU - a school that has had just eight coaches in its history. "The tradition is unmatched. The facility is the best. The interest is incredible. The school is great. There's no better atmosphere to coach a game.

"At one time, it was hard to recruit because we don't have the number of players to draw from in the area," he indicated. "Roy did an incredible job maintaining a high standard, going national and bringing in great players. Bill is showing the ability to continue and maybe even take it up a notch in terms of the recruiting."

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Brown - he also mentored Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Seattle SuperSonics coach Bob Hill, Phoenix Suns assistant Alvin Gentry, Emporia State coach David Moe and Memphis assistant John Robic - keeps in touch will all his former students.

"The last time I talked to coach Brown was over Christmas," Self said. "I said, 'Coach, I don't know about our team. We should be better than what we are.' He said, 'I've watched you. You are not far off. You know what you believe in. Make sure you are getting that across to the kids. Don't let them play the way they want to play. Make sure they play the way you want them to,' which is great advice because we weren't playing as well as we should have been.

"His whole deal is, 'What you believe in works. Make sure you make them understand that.'"

Brown - he can't discuss specific players because of NBA protocol - says he has followed the 2006-07 Jayhawks' fortunes closely as he has every year since winning the 1988 national title here and leaving for the NBA's Spurs.

"It's a little different. They are so very young. I noticed that last year, too," Brown said, adding, "I think they defend well. They are very deep. They play really hard. When a lot of coaches go to the bench there's a dropoff. When he does, they continue to play great. It's a really good team. It seems to be finding its stride now, which is obviously most important time."

Brown offers no predictions about the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

"It's one and done, and anything can happen," Brown said.

As superstitious as he is, he does think it's safe to say the Jayhawks will earn Self his 100th victory soon. Overall, Self is 306-133 in 14 seasons. The coach attained win No. 300 on Feb. 10 at Missouri.

KU to open Big 12 Tournament against Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Iowa State Cyclones Friday afternoon to advance and face off against Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament.

"I never think about it much," Brown said of milestone wins in his own career. He was 1,239-907 in 27 seasons in the pros and 177-61 in seven college campaigns. "I think sometimes it's more important to know people care about you. The way I look at it when it happens to you it's an accomplishment of all the people who participated with you, players and coaches. I'm sure Bill's the same way."

Indeed, Self credits his staff and players.

"I've always said we have as good a staff as any in America," Self said. "Whey you have good players you should win. You should always do that. I would be nice to get 100 in four years. We need to get a lot more this year because when you have good players you are supposed to win games. We've definitely got good guys."

The 44-year-old Self, who hopes to be in the early stages of a long head coaching career, is apparently quite content at KU.

"Yes, he's always told that to me," Brown said.

"Very happy," Self confirmed. "We've got great support, great administration, great players, and my family loves it here."

As far as Brown, who was dismissed last summer after one season with the New York Knicks, could there be one more head coaching stop in his storied career on the college or pro level?

"I will be 67 (on Sept. 14). I don't know what college would take a chance on me," said Brown, whose name still pops up as a candidate for certain NBA jobs. "I miss being around the players terribly and practice. I love the teaching part of it.

"I don't know," he added. "My family has sacrificed an awful lot for me to allow me to do what I've done. It's a tough decision to be honest. I always feel I never worked a day in my life."

Same with Self.

"This beats working for a living," KU's coach said, flashing his trademark smile.

KU vs. Oklahoma

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Comments

fabio (anonymous) says...

UhOh, an article about a Tar Heel grad in the middle of basketball season. He is even buddies with the evil Roy Williams-time for all the Tar Heel bashers to come out. How dare Bedore write an article about a KU legend that graduated from unc!
its blasphamy!

March 9, 2007 at 3:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justinryman (anonymous) says...

Just hoping that coach Self dosent follow in coach Browns wake and coach a few years and move on, oh wiat he has already started that trend. But I think he will stay at KU for a lot more years, he's not an NBA style coach and where do you go from KU???

March 9, 2007 at 6:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawker137 (anonymous) says...

Fabio, Fabio the writing is on the wall for you to see, you look past it for a quick lash of the tongue. Coach Brown like the "other" coach is from UNC, but the difference in the two is a championship, and that makes Coach Brown a KU Legend, williams, is just a coach, who hung out for eighteen years and gave us zero for the big one.
On to Coach Self, like Coach Brown said Self is better at recruiting then benedict williams. Coach Self is a better coach than williams, and I am confident that he will bring us several NCAA Championships during his years as coach at Kansas.
Let's hear it from the self-haters, and benedict lovers out there!!
Good luck today, after yesterdays horrible showing from all BIG XII teams, Kansas should make quick work of Oklahoma, and show them that the close game was a fluck, fueled by a OU senior night high.
go jayawks!!!!

March 9, 2007 at 7:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jimjones (anonymous) says...

Can you imagine what Brown would do with our talent today? He was certainly one of the best teachers and developed talent better than just about anyone. Conversely, we would possibly have two players being drafted by the NBA this year because they would be that far ahead

March 9, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Dude, fabio, have you still not gotten over Ol' Roy leaving? And jimjones, are you insinuating that Bill Self can't develop talent? Self is a good coach when his players let him coach them.

March 9, 2007 at 8:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Why do you guys even respond to Jim Jones when I've already told you he's a Kansas State fan posting on our message boards.

And for the record I love both Roy Williams and Bill Self. There's enough love to go around.

March 9, 2007 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

I would like to add to jross' sentiments and add LB to that list--although he left Lawrence amidst some controversy for a number of reasons, that was years ago and we have to look at what he did while at KU: from 1983-1988 he guided the 'hawks to two Final Fours and a National Championship. Not only that, he hops up to the NBA and wins a title at that level, too, not to mention he follows KU basketball as closely as he can during that time and has nothing but great things to say about the program. Some of you might consider this a bold statement, but I would put Larry Brown at a close second to John Wooden in my list of the greatest coaches of all time. Agree? Disagree?

March 9, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

Coach Brown was a legend because he not only had Danny, but he had local products like Chris Piper on that championship team. He also had a walk-on from the football team in Normore, who produced in the clutch. Regardless of who was playing, they played hard and stayed within his system. That being said, this is a new era, and the Marburys and Iversons prove that an old-school coach like Brown can't coach big-ego talent anymore.

Self is a player's coach, but he HAS gotten something out of his players. I remember when Rush and Chalmers came to KU and everyone touted their offense while mentioning that both were rather lax on defense. Well, I would say that two Big XII All-Defensive first teams for Chalmers, and the FACT that Rush is the best on-ball defender KU has, proves that Self is a good teacher and motivater. He has made Darnell Jackson (who defined RAW when he came) into a reliable player. He runs an offense unlike his southern counterpart Rick Barnes. He didn't need to take a "year off" like Huggins to recruit for his upcoming job.

A side note: Isn't it weird that Beasley and Walker both basically said that they would go anywhere Huggins did? Can you imagine some of the things Huggins was probably able to do before he was employed by KSU? With new NCAA recruiting rules, K-State better hope that he can keep it up.

March 9, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdewitt (anonymous) says...

i just really hope we can get our free throws to go down i think thats going to be real important unless were blowing them out rock chalk jayhawk for life!!!!!!!!!

March 9, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

me2

March 9, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Jaminrawk,
I respect your opinion, but what about the Detroit Pistons a few years back? Granted, that team had the lowest ego in the league, but LB was still able to lead them to an NBA Championship in the "new era."

March 9, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Oh, gawd,

The story tries to tie Self deeply to Brown who is tied deeply to Smith who is tied deeply to Roy who is tied deeply to UNC. Does this mean Self is in training at KU to replace Roy in a few years at UNC? :-)

Just a little joke. I'm not saying it is a risk.

March 9, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

I didn't forget about the Pistons, but they were also led by a guy in Chauncey Billups who doesn't exude the same arrogance as the Iversons, Marburys, Francis', etc. It has to take that type of team, for a coach to get the point across. You have to also remember that this was the same team that ran Rick Carlisle out of town. Why? Because he was a tough coach and a yeller. This is the same team that complained about how hard it was to play for Brown after he left. They acted liek Flip Saunders was sooo much better until they lost, then Billups, and the Wallaces threw him under the bus. The Pistons were kind of a fluke all the way around. Them beating the Lakers was a huge upset. Nonetheless i was happy for coach Brown.

Brown could probably coach the Spurs to a championship, yes, but how many teams like that are there out there? Those jobs aren't open, it takes a few years to build a team like that, and as evidenced by the Knicks, the NBA doesn't wait long with coaches.

March 9, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

I agree with you there, the Knicks situation was an absolute debacle. I can't see any reason for him to take that job except for, of course, $ signs and maybe the fact that he was kidding himself into thinking he could turn that mess around--you're right the NBA as a whole is a tough place for coaches with the 'old school' mentality (see: George Karl), and I'm holding out hope that there will always be those Pistons or Spurs teams that a coach like LB can lead to a title but I'm becoming less and less sure of that...

In any event, I was just giving him his due credit and I might be biased because I really like him, but nobody can deny his status as one of the great coaches of all time

March 9, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

Absolute agreement. Brown is my favorite coach of all time, despite all of the knocks on him being a "job mercenary". He was part of one of the Top 5 moments of my life, in 1988.

March 9, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

RockerBabe (anonymous) says...

Fabio, let it go and move on. You can't talk about great coaches at KU and not mention Roy Williams name. Like it or not Roy did some pretty amazing things for KU basketball and gave us eighteen great years. He did what he did for his career and his family even if it didn't agree with us KU faithful. He (Roy) knew KU basketball would survive with or without him; and we have survived.

Like you, I was devastated and shocked when Roy left KU for UNC and like many of you I felt betrayed and lied to, but I've moved on. Living in the past will not bring it into the future. Calling Roy "evil" or a "benedict" will not change the fact that he left KU or bring him back. (To be honest with you, I don't want him back.)

Personally, I don't like seeing or hearing the name calling as it degrades KU basketball and the great tradition that is symonymus with KU. KU has one of the premire basketball programs in the country. We are the model of what other university basketball programs aspire to become. So I ask you not to degrade the great tradition and be ku proud.

March 9, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Hey guys, I was being sarcastic. Ive always been a big ban of Roy and Coach Brown. I dont hold any bitterness with either of them.

March 9, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jyhwk_InTigrtwn (anonymous) says...

I'm thinkin the people still bummin about Roy leaving (me included) will finally get over when we get to the final four this year.

March 9, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

warning: the following post questions the bonafides of a popular coaching legend...

I've always thought Brown was a very good coach. He won a ring at KU and with the Pistons. He almost won a ring with UCLA. But...

If you step back, take a deep breath and look at his W-L record, it is not very distinguished. Or put it another way, many with comparable records are considered journeyman (do the names Lenny Wilkens and Bill Fitch and Dick Motta and Jerry Sloan ring a bell, at least in terms of duration of careers and total wins?).

Can anyone explain HOW Larry Brown has parlayed his W-L record into the BHOF and such incredibly high esteem?

I mean Steve Fisher won a ring at UM with Bill Frieder's guys and then almost won two or three others with an overrated group called the Fab Five that turned out to have only one player (Chris What's His Name) who ever really made an impact in the NBA (Rose was never more than a journeyman). Think of that. Fisher went to the finals of the Final Four twice--once with frosh, and then with sophs? Larry only went once with Manning's players the whole four years he was at KU. Fisher won a ring and took his team to the Finals two or three times. Both left programs in infractions. Fisher is considered a journeyman and a pariah, even though he resurfaces at San Diego State after several years of not being able to get work and builds SD State (this program was so bad it was never able to be rebuilt, only built) into an NCAA bid possible in his third year. Fisher is a chump, a no talent, a journeyman and Brown is a legend. Both have jumped around. Fisher hasn't had a long career in the pros like Brown, so perhaps the Lenny Wilkens or Dick Motta or any number of NBA coaches who slugged it out for long periods in the L with comparable W-L records and get referred to as journeyman make a better comparison.

March 9, 2007 at 12:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Is it just two rings that support Brown's stature? God so many truly journeyman coaches have rings. Ratso Izzo at MSU. Jim Harrick at UCLA.

Several coaches have coached and won at both college and pro levels, though I don't know if anyone else has won a ring at both levels. Is that the key? Winning a ring at both levels?

Not when I think about it. Brown's rep does not rest entirely on having won rings at both levels. He was already called a great coach BEFORE he won the NBA ring.

How did this guy get this incredible reputation? I watched him coach at KU and UCLA and thought he was very good. He really made Billy Tubbs look sick, but then Billy Tubbs was not a great basketball coach. He was a journeyman who hustled his way into a couple good clubs.

I watched Brown coach in the pros at several stops and thought he was good, but not great. The only really great job I ever saw him do in the pros was with the Pistons. His Sixer teams were not much more than wind up AI and let him go while getting thug ballers to play defense. The guys after him couldn't even get that out of the Sixers, but then the talent aged and fell off quickly after Brown left. Brown didn't get it done in San Antonio with perhaps the first or second or third best talent in the league. He improved San Diego, but then so has Mike Dunleavy. Is Mike Dunleavy in the BHOF? Brown bombed with the Knicks, but then the few journeyman guys who preceded him didn't do much worse and some did better.

Where DOES this coaching genius thing come from? Why can't Larry just be called a very good coach who chased the dollar the last 15 years of his career?

What am I missing here?

March 9, 2007 at 12:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jenaj21 (anonymous) says...

I agree with most of you on here in that Roy doesn't matter anymore and to be honest I like the way Self coaches better. So I have moved on as well, even if he did make a bold statement and then turn around three years later only to lie! :) Ok just kidding I am over it.

But, you all have to admit nothing would be sweeter than to beat UNC in the tourny...oh I can taste it now!

March 9, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

after the ted owens era along came brown and put ku back on the map! roy maintained the natl. status.
after self and the tex. tech disaster came tex a&m. both coach self and the players got their eyes opened. now we have a team!
so i,m off the bashing of coach self. he,s doing a good job.

now if espn would just recognize that dukes is overrated again.???
go big blue!

March 9, 2007 at 3:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Tuskin (anonymous) says...

The article said Coach Brown had 27 seasons in the NBA. Is that a typo, or did he coach in the NBA before he coached KU?

March 9, 2007 at 5 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

I believe his first head coaching job was with Denver of the ABA...long before KU.

March 9, 2007 at 10:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

warning: This Post focuses on UK basketball, which is considered appropriate, because it is just an offshoot of KU hoops. :-)

When Tubby Smith is fired after this season, look for UK to make an audacious, win-a-ring-quick hire.

My short list of predicted candidates is: Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan, Larry Brown, or Bob Huggins. Each guy offers a good angle for UK.

Rehiring Ricky Pits seems most probable. It would be one of those second marriages where everyone would admit they were young and impetuous the first time and alot wiser now. Slick Rick is clearly marking time at the 'Ville. Its a media backwater. Moving back to UK would put him back on center stage. Hiring Slick Rick again would also short circuit competition with Louisville, always a plus in Lexington. Ricky Pits loves to run and so does UK.

The No.2 pick, or perhaps even the No.1, has to be Donovan. Donovan creates continuity from Pitino, to Smith to Donovan. Donovan has a long career ahead of him remaining. UK would like a winner with ties to its program and the potential of being a long termer. Donavan has all that. Plus, as we learned with Roy and Matt Doughtery, there is no honor among theives or coaches.

Larry Brown could also be a tempting hire for UK. He could fill a roster with top players quickly and have a ring by the time he was ready for dentures. In short, LB could do for UK what LB did for KU. Win big quick, break a few rules to do it, and move on for a young coach to take over a program on the map again, but slightly off the straight and narrow. It would be yet another feather in the caps of the UNC mafia to take over the UK program. And UK has a precedent of letting a coach keep coaching until Strom Thurmond age, too...Adolph Rupp.

Hiring Huggins is probably a long shot, for he is after all the Prince of !@#$%^ Darkness, but UK wants back in the Final Four so bad it can taste it. And in some ways Huggins makes the most sense. If Huggins can turn moribund KSU around in a season, he could easily win his first ring in his first season at UK. Huggins also makes sense, because he could deliver all the Ohio players. Add the Ohio school boys to the Kentucky school boys and UK could be in the Final Four every year without Huggins even having to leave those two states. Huggins big draw back is not his seamy, satanic side. UK would gladly hire the devil to return to the Finals. The problem is Huggins doesn't like to run. But Huggo-Muggo probably would consider running if he had the depth that he would have at UK.

All for now.

March 9, 2007 at 11:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

You're right jimjones, Brown was a great coach. Problem was, he couldn't or wouldn't recruit. Were it not for his friendship with Ed Manning it's unlikely he would have ever landed Danny. You're point is moot at best since he is incapable of recruiting the current roster.

March 10, 2007 at 12:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )