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The last laugh

President calls Self morning after title

Posted Wednesday, April 9, 2008

NCAA Champion Jayhawks return

KU, the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament champions, were greeted by fans in Topeka and then celebrated at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. Kansas head coach Bill Self, assistant coach Danny Manning, and several Jayhawk players address the crowd. Watch videos »

6News Championship Celebration

Coverage of the festivities after the Jayhawks became the NCAA National Champions. Watch videos »

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Jayhawks return

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Kansas Jayhawks: 2008 National Champions

View an audio slideshow showcasing the Kansas Jayhawk's dramatic overtime victory over Memphis for the 2008 NCAA National Championship. Watch video »

San Antonio — Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self had finally returned to his Hilton Hotel room at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, after he and his wife, Cindy, entertained relatives and childhood friends, as well as parents of his players into the wee hours of the morning.

After re-living all the highlights of the Jayhawks’ pulsating 75-68 national championship victory over Memphis, the couple dozed off about 7 a.m.

They were awakened by the sound of Bill’s cell phone at 8, the caller the most famous person in the United States.

“President Bush called. He was great,” Self revealed at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, in a meeting with reporters back at the Alamodome, site of KU’s overtime victory Monday night.

“He talked about how exciting a game it was and how happy and proud I must be of my guys. He invited us to the White House. He said something cool: ‘You have great seniors. If you don’t get here soon they won’t have a chance to come; they’ll all be going in different ways. If you want, come in the next month to month and a half.’’’

Self indicated he’d definitely like to make that trip to Washington, D.C., as a reward for his Jayhawks, who finished with 37 victories, most in school history.

“This is the best team in the 110-year history of Kansas basketball. That is what makes it so humbling,” Self said, still amazed at how the Jayhawks snared the title.

“Could you believe we won that game?” Self said. “We’re down nine with two left. I talked about this to the guys ... about how many times we practice being down six with two minutes left and never win the game.

“We showed some toughness and had some guys make plays and hit hard shots. You don’t come back from nine down with two left unless you have a serious element of toughness.”

Self said two shots in the game will forever stand out in his mind.

“If Mario’s shot was the biggest in Kansas basketball history,” Self said of the Mario Chalmers three that sent the game into overtime, “then Sherron’s probably is the second biggest.”

Sherron Collins, who first plucked a steal, hit a three to cut Memphis’ once-comfy lead to 60-56 at 1:45.

“So many guys are involved in making that happen,” Self said. “Sherron steals the ball and passes to Mario who passes to Russ. Russ was trying to shoot it. Fortunately for us they guarded him well, no offense to Russ,” Self said with a laugh.

“Russ fed Sherron. Seven (points) became four and there still was plenty of time left. It was a huge play and couldn’t have happened without three different guys. I’m definitely proud of the fight the guys showed last night.”

Those guys, like their coach, celebrated wildly in the hotel after the game.

“Nobody could sleep,” said Robinson, who joined Self and Sasha Kaun at a morning ceremony at the dome in which Self was presented the NABC coaches trophy (for the team that finishes first in the USA Today/ESPN poll) and the players the NCAA title trophy to bring back to Lawrence.

“We hung around the rooms. We had the (KU) band come through. We hung out and took a lot of pictures and enjoyed the moment.”

“We hung out with our families. We’re a big family,” Kaun noted. “The team enjoyed the moment. Nobody wanted to sleep.”

Kaun said the Jayhawks, who suffered just three losses all year, winning the national title as well as Big 12 regular season and postseason tourney crowns, were on a mission after last season’s Elite Eight loss to UCLA.

“This team was so hungry,” Kaun said. “Last year left a bad taste in our mouths. In this tournament, everybody played like they were upset. Everybody had focus.”

Remember, the team’s seniors also had been through first-round losses to Bucknell and Bradley.

“We’ve seen the bottom. We’d been through it all,” Robinson said. “We would not let anything distract us this year.”

Of course it’s KU’s first title since 1988, the year Danny Manning led the Jayhawks past Oklahoma in the title game in Kansas City.

“I’m so happy for our university,” Self said. “The stars were aligned 20 years ago when Danny and the guys went through Nebraska and Detroit just like we did (in first-and second rounds). There were so many similarities. We couldn’t have scripted a better week for us.”

KU Basketball

Comments

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Posted by RockChalkMMVIII (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.fileden.c...

From the AlamoDome

RockChalk!

Posted by Brock (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bucknell and Bradley...we hardly knew ye!

Posted by jayhawker_97 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dang, the title made it sound like coach Self has already made his decision to go.. please don't scare me!

Posted by plasticJHawk (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

97, in my mind that would be a very inappropriate title if that were the case

Posted by KU (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He's not going anywhere. He'll get $2.5M per year over 8 or 10 years and probably a big signing bonus for winning the NC. Remember, he doesn't have an agent like most of these guys so he keeps ALL of his salary instead of giving 10-15% to an agent.

Self values the tradition and knows that's part of what makes coaching special.

Posted by txrockchalk (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Sherron Collins, who first plucked a steal, hit a three to cut Memphis’ once-comfy lead to 60-56 at 1:45."

That play epitomized how we played like a team the whole season.

Speaking of the all-time greatest team, a couple of other incredible teams in recent memory:

* 1996-97 team that only lost two games all year

* 2001-02 team that went 16-0 in conference and played in the Final Four

Posted by jayhawkinatl (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree totally, KU.
Sounds like Coach just wants a long-term, guaranteed deal more than anything, including a BIG per annum.

Posted by HawkFanEddie (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PLEASE PAY BILL SELF!!!

Posted by klong (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They will pay him. I think about twice what he is getting now. Thankfully Self is not like some guys who are all about the money. I think he really means that he loves playing for a school with KU's tradition.

Just give him a long term deal and he will take it. I could be wrong, but I think that he is really a great guy who actually loves to coach Kansas.

Posted by klong (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Make that coaching for a school with KU's tradition. He is a little old to play! lol

Posted by TtownHawk (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great win, Great comeback. this is the best season ever to be a KU fan. Orange Bowl champs and National Champs in Basketball. it doesn't get any better than this!

Posted by BCRavenJHawkfan (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Even if it is about the money, at 2.5 million a year if you can not live comfortably in Lawrence then you are not going to live comfortably in Stillwater at 3 or 4 million a year.

Let's take him at his word for now that it is security, not in the monetary sense, but in the tenure sense he is looking for. Look at Florida, they win back to back titles and then get dumped to the NIT. It could happen with Self, God forbid.

He probably also knows that he can not count on having the same boss at Kansas for years to come. This is in some way no different than our own jobs, when you have a boss that you can work with life is pretty good. You get a boss that comes in and is unreasonable it does not take much for you to consider leaving.

Also consider who he has on his staff. I think it is a safe bet that there will be assistants that move on for head coaching jobs. Will he be better filling those spots at Kansas or OSU (I would pick Kansas).

After all that let's just play what if. What if he does go. Will Jayhawk Nation react the same way as in the Roy Williams situation? Does a National Championship temper that reaction? Would the reaction be based more on the years of service provided comparitively by each coach? Or is it simply that the first time this happened the guy balked, leading anyone and everyone to believe that he was in Nirvana for the rest of his natural life.

Personally, I would not be part of something that has T Bone's finger prints all over it. The man is cut from the same oil soked cloth that Al DAvis and Jerry Jones come from - all three would sell their own mothers to get what they want. I will hope that Self has the character to see that.

Posted by goldlighting (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL at OSU trying to buy basketball history and titles. Just like everything else in our great country, just BUY IT, money talks! I seriously doubt SELF is that shallow as he has shown himself to be a man of the utmost integrity.

Posted by sevenyearhawk (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

See the One Shining Moment video and official CBS highlights from ALL SIX games, courtesy of YouTube at:

http://www.beakem.or...

Posted by CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't wait till THE BREAKING NEWS comes out.

Self gets 10 yr contract with 2 mill up front and 2.8 mill per yr.

Posted by CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Damm it KU...

Sell KUmed to KSU or something... hahaha.. just kidding.

But pay the man...

Posted by gamedayreview (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

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TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?
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THE THIRD NATIONAL TITLE!!!

Posted by LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oklahoma State needs to suck it. No, seriously, maybe they should hire Coach Self then fill out his staff with Coach K, Roy and get John Wooden to run the freshman team. Danny Manning can run the training table.

Clowns.

Posted by brandon_walsh (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

LAJayhawk5 is gay

Posted by easyfive (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey, OSU Larry Brown is looking for a job!
Leave us alone. Go get him...

Posted by brandon_walsh (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Self's leaving. The championship was a fluke. Here comes the 20year drought again. why would anyone want to remain in Lawrence for an extended period of time anyway? LAJayhawk5 likes man on man relationships.

Posted by LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

national champions. suck it. seriously.

signed,
national champs.

Posted by LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

inside scoop on brandon_walsh: MU fan. shocking to those that read what he posts.

quick question: how hard is the next year going to be for those people? already ravaged by poverty, inferiority complexes and bad teeth, MU fans will be reminded daily that KANSAS = NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

Signed,
National Champions
Kansas: The Ric Flair of College Basketball
(whoooooo).

Posted by pmohr13 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll take a championship every 20 years over no championships at all. HAHAHA laughing at Mizzou fans HAHAHA. We had more success this year in sports then you have had in your whole program period.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Posted by moorobs5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What's up with that gamedayreview post? Has anybody clicked on it and gotten a virus or something? There were some posts "deleted by staff" from the same person two days ago.

Posted by LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MU: Never been to a Final Four, no championships of any kind. Nothing to look forward to, no real reason to get out of bed every morning. "But what about the new Baconator?" 6/10 people associate Missouri with "Deliverance," gravel driveways and generic TV dinners.

KU: 13 Final Four Appearances, 5 National Titles, 3rd most wins of all-time, best coach in America, best fans in America, beautiful campus, Orange Bowls, cheap Schooners, tradition, AFH, America's team, '07/'08 NATIONAL CHAMPS and Ric Flair (woooo!).

Posted by HawkFanEddie (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The KU vs. MU arguement is getting a little old. KU is better. But considering the TV ratings...America's Team is a bit much...

BTW...LETS PAY BILL SELF!!!

Posted by bjdku (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can someone tell me what is with the discrepancy between media outlets as to how many national titles the jayhawks have? I have heard, 3, 4 and 5.

Posted by jhawkdan42 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know that I am as guilty as anyone, but we need to try and stop responding to the idiot trifecta that is adp,sooballs and brandon_walsh otherwise we play right into their pathetic hands and give their insignificant lives something to look forward to.

Posted by LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP titles since the creation of the NCAA and 2 prior to that, I believe.

Posted by LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

HawkFanEddie: America's Team - if not KU, who?

Posted by LAJayhawk (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do you know that the golf courses in Columbia only have 14 holes?

They never play the final four.

Posted by NavyHawk (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

gamedayreview, Please stop using the forums to push your illegally gotten recordings or trademark infringing shirts. Suggestion to others. Don't buy his products or you are just helping a criminal bypass copyright and trademark laws.

Thanks Coach Self and Super Mario and the Brothers for a special season. It's a Great Year to be a Jayhawk!!!

Posted by jhawker137 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have this sick feeling that Coach Self is leaving. On the ESPN HOT SEAT, he said, and I am paraphrasing here, that if the guys wanted to leave early and turn Pro that he hopes that they let the staff know what they are doing. "Staff" Please tell me that STAFF includes him.
Lew Perkins and everyone else that has some pull at Kansas, please, PLEASE give him a long term contract with big time bonuses for Final Four and National Championships, even throw something in for the elite eight, it will happen we all know that it will. Remeber Self-haters that he did in 5 years what Roy could not do in 15.
I would love to have a Coach that wants to stay for a long period of time, retire a Jayhawk and we immortalize him like Phog.
Bill Self has several other National Championships in his reach. We need him to get those here!!!!
PAY THE MAN. Don't be SELFish!!!

Posted by tis4tim (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This from Yahoo!

http://sports.yahoo....

Posted by CasperCorps (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a great year to be a Kansas fan.. I still can't believe we're National Champs!!!... Don't let the rumors of Self leaving or staying ruin such a great accomplishment!!! We rocked them and made a chalk out line around them... I've always said Chalmers, Collins, Rush, Robinson, and Jackson are my favorite players, and look what they did!!! Rockem Hawks!!1

Posted by Yahweh (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love it all. Dana Anderson, get your crew together and keep Bill here!

Posted by jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why shouldn't we call ourselves America's team, especially when we wear America's colors?

Posted by wats211 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

THERE IS NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SMILE.....AND WE ALL ARE WEARING ONE...THANKS YOU GUYS FOR GIVING US REAL JOY AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Posted by SuperHawk211 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's AWESOME! They have the honor of going to the White House, meeting and take photos with the President, shaking his hand and giving him a Kansas Jayhawks jersey with his name on it that he will cherish for the rest of his life! I'm very proud of my Jayhawks! What a special year. Thanks for the wonderful memories guys!

Posted by OklahomaJayhawk5 (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 2:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Everyone here in Oklahoma is all but banking on Self leaving KU. The talk is relentless, and sickening! These poke fans think they know it all, and my gosh I hope they are all wrong!!

Posted by actorman (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 2:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"What's up with that gamedayreview post?"

Good question. I've been urging people to click on "suggest removal" the second they see one of the serial spammer's posts so that his posts won't stay up long. I also suggest people email him and tell him to leave us alone.

I find it mystifying that he hasn't been shut down by a moderator yet. MODERATORS: HOW CAN YOU LET THIS GUY CONTINUE TO POST OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND ,.....?????

Now on to more pleasant things: The more I hear, the less worried I get about Self leaving. KU is absolutely committed to do all it can to keep him, and OSU's money can only take it so far. We're in a totally different situation than we were with Roy (Al Bohl v. Lew Perkins, family members' health, etc.) and with LB (with KU having a much smaller budget than it does now and LB being a mercenary who never stays in one place for long). Bill Self has never said or done anything to make us not believe that he is a man of tremendous integrity and character, and he has made it very clear that he wants to stay if KU takes care of him. And I'm confident that KU will do whatever it takes.