Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Self, Perkins meet, more on tap Thursday

By Gary Bedore

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Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self and athletic director Lew Perkins met for 15 minutes on Wednesday to discuss the fifth-year coach's future at KU.

"We just talked in general," Self told the Journal-World, indicating a longer meeting will take place Thursday. "We did not talk a lot, but it was very productive. Lew is 100 percent supportive. Lew knows the thing I'm most concerned about is to continue to have the resources that will allow us to compete at this level, things like facilities, housing (for players), things already in the works. We'll visit in detail tomorrow."

Self, who stressed, "I love KU, I love this place, my family loves this place," gave every indication he will remain Jayhawk coach, perhaps with an announcement as early as Thursday, once some specifics are discussed.

"I anticipate this moving forward in a very positive way. This won't drag on," Self said. "All I'm interested in is giving the program the best chance to continue to compete at the highest of levels. Lew wants that, too."

Self - he figures to receive a hefty bump in salary with the security of the additional years he desires - said he also will visit with Oklahoma State officials, who want him to replace Sean Sutton.

That talk will likely come in the form of a phone call.

"It's not to compare offers or anything," Self said. "Out of respect to my alma mater, I'll at least visit with them. I don't anticipate anything as far as serious interest in leaving this place. I love this place."

For more on this story, log back onto KUSports.com and read Thursday's Journal-World.

Comments

CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...

phewww!!

April 9, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...

Like i said

Lets sell KUmed to KSU....

Self will get his money and make every single students tuition free for one year...

hahaha... just kidding

April 9, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkswn (anonymous) says...

How do you know "he needs us more than we need him"? What if we could see the future and we learn that Bill would bring 2 more National Championships to KU over the next 10 years? Would you still say that? I doubt it.

Get a clue, dude. Bill Self is the best there is.

April 9, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DueFan (anonymous) says...

Self is smart. He loves it at KU, but he also knows that a coach as good as him should be making more. So his "there's potential" about the OSU job is just a move from him to make KU's AD give him the security he needs.

That being said, even if Self's signing with KU won't be as reliving as knowing that OSU finds someone else other than our Self. Then I will know that another Roy drama is farfrom happening again.

April 9, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

The rumor is if (when) Self commits to staying with KU, old oil britches is going to pursue Gillespie.

April 9, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldalum (anonymous) says...

Can't see that. He's just getting started at Kentucky.

April 9, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

afilmer (anonymous) says...

This is a good sign. If Lew Perkins is committed to keeping Head Coach Bill Self - Self will stay.

April 9, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

blackhawkjayhawk (anonymous) says...

it ain't over till it's over. lew better bring the money bags or say goodbye to mr. self

April 9, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mvjayhawk (anonymous) says...

sounds like we're right there....real close! C'mon Jayhawk fans, let's show the love to our national title winning coach!! And c'mon Lew, whatever the man wants. Practice facilities, airplane budget, kids' college tuition taken care of,.....(shoot throw in the grandkids too...tee he)....let's keep Coach Self here forever!!!
congrats on a season for the ages!

April 9, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...

my opinion...2 mill bonus and 2.5 mill per yr for 10 yrs.. and that is all we can do... I'm sorry...

T boone is ruining the image of College basketball and Football.

April 9, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkswn (anonymous) says...

What happened to the first comment that was initially posted on here? Someone had left a post that said, "this is certainly good news, but if Self leaves I'll help him pack his bags. He needs us more than we need him."

April 9, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkswn (anonymous) says...

Wow, you guys are really censoring/removing the comments here, huh?

April 9, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BPSkelly (anonymous) says...

Self has played this right and as he should in my opinion.

He'll never have this kind of leverage ever again. Coming off a National Championship season AND having T. Boone Pickens opening the wallet for him?!?!? He'd be insane not to make sure he get what he wants from KU. And odds are good he'll get it.

I dont fault Self at all. I also dont see him going anywhere. He'll get his extension and his raise. And then he can be Emperor of Kansas until he gets knocked out in the first round again.

April 9, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chiliskate (anonymous) says...

remember this about Gillispie guys.... he has not signed an official contract with kentucky... he has been working off some sort of letter of understanding since he has been there. So, the fact he just got there may not matter.

April 9, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Tubby makes $3M at Minnesota......Donovan makes $3.5M at Florida. I'd say $2.5M is the bare minimum with a big signing bonus for winning the Championship.

Sounds like Self is more concerned with getting a palatial practice facility and new housing for his players than being the highest paid coach in America. I lived in Jayhawk Towers years ago and they were dumpy THEN. I can see why Self would find new digs a great recruiting tool.

Gotta have this wrapped up before Sunday's parade and banquet, Sweet Lew!

April 9, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

njjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Bill will stay in Lawrence. Enough said.

T. Boone, on the other hand, should consider enrolling in an "ego-control" class at the local YMCA in Stillwater. Such would help all in college sports. If his $ are so effective, then why did Les Miles leave OSU for LSU? Or why is not Pete Carroll of USC coaching football in Stillwater? And who is the best chancellor in the country? Whoever it is, why isn't she/he the Chancellor in Stillwater, compliments of Mr. Pickens?

April 9, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Speakeasy (anonymous) says...

I'd like to see OSU get Dana Altman.

April 9, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kranny (anonymous) says...

I agree will BPSkelly. I think coach is simply a brilliant negotiator and using this situation to negotiate the little and not so little things that attract the best players, and the best coaches. What player doesn't want attractive living quarters, and facilities and what coaches dont' want good salaries. Make 'em pony up coach!

April 9, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Dana Altman is a good coach, but he might be at his ceiling in terms of competition at a Mo Valley school. He didn't exactly tear it up at K-State before they let him go and he was handed the keys to a pretty healthy program because Kruger had just gone to 4 straight NCAA tournaments.

April 9, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fansincewilt (anonymous) says...

It's good to take all the Tiger, Wildcat, and Cowboy fans off of this site right now. We want Bill Self to stay in the worst or best way. He is easily the best coach in America. He made Roy Williams and John Calipari look silly. I still appreciate Williams coming to the Jayhawk title game but you can't seriously compare the two. Let's get this thing done tomorrow. I'm getting as nervous as I was before the Carolina game.

April 9, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DCHawk (anonymous) says...

What does he mean by player housing - a special dorm for the b-ball players? That would be pretty sweet. Do other schools have that?

April 9, 2008 at 6 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cklarock (anonymous) says...

Bill Self is the winningest coach in Kansas history. His NC seals the deal, legacy-wise, and once Lew extends him (hopefully with a rollover contract) we'll know that the best program in the country has the best coach in the country locked down.

How long until Late Night?

Man, it's good to be a Jayhawk.

April 9, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

RonBurgandy (anonymous) says...

There is not a better coach in the country. Give him a salary that a national championship winning, highest winning percentage in his first five years coach deserves.

April 9, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

afilmer (anonymous) says...

head coach bill self's comments about facilities and player housing is a direct shot across the bow regarding the athlete village t. boone pickens (the hillbilly billionaire) is providing for OSU. self knows that this is his one chance to demand the moon, and more than likely get it - not only for himself, but for his players and for the future of the university of kansas.

his straight shooting and honesty differentiate him from the coach before him - you know - the guy that took over after coach brown.

April 9, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mudman1956 (anonymous) says...

Great to hear Bill say the things he did today. I cant see the deal not getting done. Looking forward to great days ahead!!!! go hawks!

April 9, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkliz (anonymous) says...

This is way out of hand. BS did his job, Yes he deserves a good contract, but KU should not get into a bidding war with OSU. OSU has a nut giving the money, sure he is more than loaded but....this is way out of controll!

April 9, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

The way Bill Self is handling this whole thing is very classy, and I think what he's doing is actually for the program, not as much for himself. Here is why:

1. A long-term contract is essential in recruiting because the players know he'll be there for their entire playing career.
2. He wants better housing for the players, which is actually a major issue. The Jayhawker towers is a housing project and was a slum when I was there. It doesn't help that all of the football players live there so there are always fights breaking out and all manner of debauchery going on. I wouldn't want to come to KU if I knew I had to live in that place.
3. Talking to his alma mater out of respect for them shows the loyalty that he has, and is perfectly appropriate.

I am so excited about the future of our program!

April 9, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

live4h2o (anonymous) says...

When I was getting recruited out of high school in 1992 (not for bball, although my HUGE 5' 9" frame would have been perfect for low post play), there were a ton of all-athlete dorms. I think there has been a rule change since then and you can't have an all-athlete dorm now. But if there were a new university dorm/apartments that cost an arm and a leg for the normal student but was free for football and bball scholarship players, it would essentially serve the same purpose.
I would sign the petition to tear down the eye-sore Jayhawk Towers and built the Taj Majal-O-Bill in its place.

My two cents - which have been repeated many many times on this board and over looked by the mass media - Bill is NOT going to OSU. But he is very smart and would not throw away such a huge bargaining chip by turning away the OSU rumors until he got exactly what he wants out of KU. That would be silly.

I think I am still in shock that we won. Please - someone pinch me.

Now if we can get the basball team to the college world series I would really be slap-happy.

April 9, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chitownjayhawk88 (anonymous) says...

Isn't anyone wondering why OSU has been conspicuously silent while all the rumors and speculation swirl?

The obvious answer is because Ole' T. Boone is an old-fashioned horse, er, oil trader who will teach Lew a harsh lesson in the realities of how to cut a deal. If Lew's not smart, there's no question he'll steal our coach in the process.

Don't be misled -- all of the comments thus far are simply prelude...this is high-stakes poker, and we're up against a guy who negotiates for a living. In fact, he's so good at it he's made billions doing so. This is child's play for T Boone.

It would be a hugely naive to assume the goodwill of the NC and KU's reputation alone will be the swing factor for us, even if we're in the same financial ballpark as OSU.

Everyone wants this to get done ASAP to put our minds at ease, but the sooner Lew presents an offer - any offer - the more likely Coach Self will pack his bags for OSU.

The first rule of negotiating is that you make the other guy show his cards first.

Coach Self has already indicated he'll speak with OSU before making a final decision. This is his indirect and not-so-subtle way of telling OSU to be patient - they'll have their day in court.

By acting first, KU loses any leverage. OSU will simply counter with a substantially better salary package plus intangibles (i.e. facilities, heartstrings, etc.). This will leave KU backed into a corner with limited options to sweeten the pot.

The good news is that time is on KU's side since OSU can't wait indefinitely before knowing which direction they're going. In addition to the coaching vacancy itself, they need to resolve issues pertaining to assistants, recruits, player retention, etc.

Lew needs to get the big donors involved in direct dialogue with Coach and talk specifics about what we can offer in addition to direct financial compensation. The required time and complexity to bring this into focus will force OSU's hand and they'll have to make an offer first. Additionally, the process of hashing through all the details will only make Coach more excited about what the future will hold at KU.

This is not to say we should just stall - in fact, nothing is further from the truth. Lew and Coach SHOULD take all the time they need to build a package that makes sense to pay him for what he's worth today, while ensuring the flexibility to adequately compensate him into the foreseeable future. This can't and shouldn't be done overnight.

In the meantime, OSU (and T Boone) will need to put something out there for consideration, which will play into our hands. It's always better to negotiate from a position of knowledge, while knowing what you're up against. Doing otherwise is a recipe for disaster.

Trust me, this game of poker has only just begun.

April 9, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Again, don't get sucked into arguments with people who are not true Jayhawks. It appears there are still a few non-Jayhawks posing to be "upset" Jayhawks on these boards... a true Jayhawk has nothing to be upset or stressed about... enjoy the moment, it will last for quite sometime...

Look what Self, his staff, and our student athletes have brought us this year and be done with it!!!!!!!!! He has no desire to leave Naismith-Wilt-Endacott-Rupp-Phog-Manning Village... And if he gets sucked into an immediate eye-popping moment (6million bucks of "what the heck did I just get myself into" pain), we'll still love him, understand his mistake, and watch him come to Allen Fieldhouse every other year as Sisyphus... he's smarter than that, he doesn't need to push some burning unmoveable boulder when he's already a Legend here. He saw Roy wearing that Jayhawk logo, directly on his heart -- he can read beyond the bird...

April 9, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hewn (anonymous) says...

I agree. The towers are pretty shady. Let's see what we can do about that while we have a chance here.

By the way, it looks like the new facility by the stadium is shaping up nicely. Got a good look at the progress yesterday at the welcoming party.

I remember when people were worried about Lew being "all about the money." Well, guess what - it takes money to get some things done. Personally, I couldn't be more pleased with the job Lew has done here. He's really nurtured the development of the athletic program here and established a strong foundation for its future.

And yes, I'm ready to count down to Late Night too. Without adding up the days, it's right around 6 months from now. Can't wait.

April 9, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

I hear everyone bitching about the Jayhawker Towers -- and rightfully so!!-- but come on people. It's not just athletes who live there. Non traditional, graduate, and foreign exchange students live there too! They advertise them as apartments -- they really are like projects! Also, don't forget that it is generally the athletes that make it worse on other residents. Some of them have pretty big egos and leave their trash where they want, play loud music, and smoke inside. And I'm not talking about cigarettes. Before we get too slap-happy with pampering and coddling our athletes, let's think about other students too. Tear these s***hole buildings down and put something respectable in their place. Make all residents respect the housing, too.

April 9, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

wats211 (anonymous) says...

i will never leave?...i love this place?...we have heard that before..but the difference this time is..bill self is more honest than larry brown or roy williams...if he says it..its true...i believe it.....and im very happy about it..bill self will win many ncaa titles here...many....wow..this is really going to get fun!

April 9, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chitownjayhawk88 (anonymous) says...

I'm not sure if "100," aka Anonymous, was referring to me and my argument that it's ignorant to not perceive OSU as a threat as not coming from a "true Jayhawk."

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if 100 traveled to all 6 of the tourney games (I could only make it to 5 of them), then I stand corrected.

But if the truth is as I suspect - that 100 is a twenty-something kid (or still in Lawrence for that matter) with no business experience or any actual understanding of how things happen in the real world --- then I only hope I'm wrong.

We need to do whatever it takes to keep Coach. I just hope we're smart about our approach.

April 9, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

okiedave (anonymous) says...

I think Mike Holder, Looney Booney U's Athletic director, should go after Kelvin Sampson. Boone is going to deep six any coach who can't produce a Sweet 16 team within the first three years. Kelvin will take that risk and, interestingly enough, he is available - again.

April 9, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

I agree, Strikewso, to all your points. Jayhawker Towers needs to be torn down and replaced. That place was a roach motel back in the late '80s when my brother lived there. The football team deserves better too. It's nice to see Coach looking out for his players to have quality living quarters.

April 9, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fansincewilt (anonymous) says...

This year, it seems like we had a lot of games broadcasted nationally - more than normal. Do you think this is going to continue? Kansas is getting back on top. I know these tv programs have to be based on ratings. This is good that we are getting so much coverage. Things are going so well. Let's do what we need to do to keep things going. We don't want to have to start over again. More and more athletes will make Kansas the team they want to play for. Bill Self can get this. Let's get it done.

April 9, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

stujayhawk (anonymous) says...

Self has integrity.

Self has honor.

Self has pride.

Self got his first Final Four at KU.

Self got his FIRST National Championship at KU.

He's got an excellent recruiting class coming in (with the possibility of only losing Rush to the Draft).

I think he'll stay at KU

April 9, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

RckChalkJeff (anonymous) says...

100 = Total Idiot tool. Go check out his past idiotic ramblings.

Havnt missed your posts since football season 100...go away.

April 9, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

larry brown and roy both left because of the smallminded way the people treated them! both still love KU BB. it would appear that bill self has weathered the things that were posted on here last year.
some idiot on tv ,i think it was the guy from duke, not DV,whoi made a crack about coaches mill and everyone leaving all of the time. ku has had 8 coaches in 110 years. can any other school say that? most schools have not played that long.
lets show support for bill he outcoached memphis!!!!!!!!!!

April 9, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dek9219 (anonymous) says...

If you go to the UNC message boards, some of those goofballs are saying that Roy is coming back to KU as soon as Bill takes the OSU job. Now is that goofy or what?
Great job Coach Self. Hope it all works out for everyone involved. Rock Chalk!!

April 9, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Proud2bnOkiefromKansas (anonymous) says...

Lets do whatever it takes to keep him here! Even if it means Self-Allen Fieldhouse. (in the tradition of Gallager-Iba)

April 9, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ldaxon (anonymous) says...

One thing I don't hear anybody talking about is what Bill's wife and kids might want to do. Bill's kids are the age where it is harder on them to move and I would suspect in the last 5 years they have become true Jayhawks (hard thing to resist).

I graduated from KU but was married on campus at OSU to an OSU alum and lived in Stillwater for a while (still live in Oklahoma), and I can tell you there is no comparison between the two schools, towns, traditions, etc. KU wins hands down. Kansas is a basketball state. Oklahoma is a football state.

I think since BS was an assistant at KU under L Brown it was his dream to get to coach at a "tradition rich" school like KU -- a truly elite program. That is why he jumped so quickly from Illinois and the great players he had recruited there to KU when he got the chance. I say he has been bitten by the Jayhawk bug and isn't leaving. It's not about the money.

April 9, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

coupar (anonymous) says...

Bill Self is an excellent coach, now with a National Championship on his resume. It's sad that we have to spend our time focusing on trying to keep our coach when we should be celebrating a national championship. Thanks a lot OSU for firing your coach the week of the final four. Confirming the rumors that we have been hearing for weeks. Class act.

April 9, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rcd1963 (anonymous) says...

For easier continuity, I hope Bill Self stays with our program. He has accomplished more than simply winning the champoinship. He has proved that a new coach can capitalize on our gloriuos tradition,which even we fans fail to acknowledge sometimes. We are not dependent on North Caroilina or anyone hand me downs. What true basketball coach at any level would not cherish driving to work each day up Naismith Drive to Phog Allen Fieldhouse. While Mr Self is entitled to appropriate monetary compensation,our athletic department should not be coerced to anything more. KU basketball history and desitney will never be dependent on any one individual. and in itself is so priceless that Chapel Hill,Durham,Lexington,Bloomington,Los Angeles and certainly not Stillwater will ever match.

April 9, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...

I totally agree rcd1963...

I have been to Chapel Hill, Durham and Lexington for a game.

I'm not saying this because im a KU fan, but seriously the other places did not even come close to what i feel at AllenField house.

I wanna say thank you to Roy williams for cheering for KU. Its unbelievable how he does not want to schedule a game with KU ever unless they meet in tournament.

I hope Bill self feels the same about KU.

April 9, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

I'm a Bill Self fan and want him to stay.

Still, I also had to learn about bargaining the hard way over the years. When your employee openly shops around, i.e., he talks to others about a job right infront of your face, then you darned well better start interviewing other employees, because you've entered a strategic realm no matter how much sugar coating your employee puts on it.

A week ago Coach Self said, "I am not a candidate." He also said he "would" advise OSU to move in another direction.

Now he says he has to talk with KU. He has to talk with the OSU AD, a friend of his, about OSU's interest in hiring him--a program he noted that has significant "resources." And he wants security.

He says he loves KU, but says he wants the assurance that KU will spend the money to build the facilities that he needs for recruiting at a high level.

April 10, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

KU, if it can afford to, should pay Bill Self what other coaches make who have won NCs. They should meet the market, but what is the market? It is somewhere between Donovan's $3.5M and, I suppose, Jim Boeheim's salary, whatever he makes. If they pay Coach Self what Florida paid Donovan, who won two, it means they are willing to take a serious rebuilding year after winning the NC and grin and bear it. Did anyone notice just HOW far off the radar screen Florida fell this year? Is KU prepared to fall that far for $3.5M per year, or would they rather hire, say, Lon Kruger for $2M and have just about the same winning record, and the same chance at winning a ring over the next 5 years as Self offers, and even play virtually identical ball?

As much as I like Bill Self, it is a tough call to me.

The realities are:

1. there are a few coaches out there who could do what Bill Self does at KU that KU could get.

2. Bill is interviewing for another job than KU.

3. KU is going to be rebuilding regardless of who is coaching and Bill knows this.

KU should be doing its darnedest to keep Coach Self here, but they should be interviewing Lon Kruger, John Calipari, or whomever else they think would run the program at a high level. It is the only sensible way to deal with an employee that is shopping...no matter how much he loves you and you love him.

I don't begrudge Coach Self doing what is best for Coach Self. I hope he continues to do so just as he has started out doing since winning the NC. Persons are supposed to make the best deal they can and capitalize on accomplishments. Certainly none of Coach Self's athletes refuse the BIG contract to stay at KU. They only refuse the iffy BIG contract.

I don't believe Coach Self should or would begrudge KU interviewing other candidates for his job either. He's a player. He understands the realities of these things as much as anyone else.

Lew Perkins should announce that KU loves Bill Self and wants him to stay more than anything and then say, "I will be interviewing a few coaches of high stature who might be interested in coming to Kansas if Coach Self has to do what is best for his family." End of quote.

Negotiations between Coach Self and Lew Perkins would go no faster or slower, because of this move, but they would suddenly move toward BOTH sides being perceived by the other as acting rationally. Presently, only Coach Self is acting rationally.

April 10, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"Wow, you guys are really censoring/removing the comments here, huh?"

Unfortunately they don't appear to be censoring/removing the thousands upon thousands of posts from the serial spammer gamedayreview. I'd rather have his posts removed than anyone else, no matter how obnoxious the other person is. Even the worst flamer is at least spouting an opinion--ignorant or not. Any opinion is better than pure spam.

"Isn't anyone wondering why OSU has been conspicuously silent while all the rumors and speculation swirl? The obvious answer is because Ole' T. Boone is an old-fashioned horse, er, oil trader who will teach Lew a harsh lesson in the realities of how to cut a deal. If Lew's not smart, there's no question he'll steal our coach in the process."

I assume you've been observing Lew over the years like the rest of us have? He's obviously a pretty shrewd businessman in his own right, shrewd enough to piss off a lot of KU supporters in order to greatly increase the athletic budget. His methods have often been harsh and lacking in tact but his results have been tremendous. There is no reason not to be extremely confident that he knows what to do. Remember, we're talking about someone who was voted the best athletic director in the country when he was at UConn, and who has done nothing at KU to make people believe that has changed.

wats 211--is your cap key stuck?!?!? is that the reason you can never put up a single post without screaming every word!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Self has integrity.
Self has honor.
Self has pride.
Self got his first Final Four at KU.
Self got his FIRST National Championship at KU.
He's got an excellent recruiting class coming in (with the possibility of only losing Rush to the Draft).
I think he'll stay at KU"

I couldn't have said it better, stujayhawk. All of the people who are concerned or are trying to read extra into Self's comments have not been paying attention to who the man is and what he's about. He has shown nothing but class and integrity from the first day he's been at KU, and I for one take him at face value. He WANTS to stay here and ku wants to keep him. There's no reason it won't work out.

"larry brown and roy both left because of the smallminded way the people treated them!"

While there's a lot of truth to that when it comes to Roy (can you say Al Bohl?), I don't think that has anything whatsoever to do with why LB left. Hello?!?!? Have you followed his career?!?!? He never stays anywhere longer than five years. He also left for the then-astronomical salary of $750,000 from an NBA team--a salary that KU couldn't come close to matching. LB has always been a great coach and has also always been a mercenary who can't be trusted, in other words pretty much the polar opposite of Bill Self. How many times has he claimed he would stay somewhere and then left. He's done it over and over ad nauseum. I pretty much don't believe anything he says.

April 10, 2008 at 3:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"If they pay Coach Self what Florida paid Donovan, who won two, it means they are willing to take a serious rebuilding year after winning the NC and grin and bear it."

How do you define "rebuilding year," jaybate? I say KU makes it to at least the Sweet 16 next year, and that would be a lot better than Florida. I don't know enough details about Florida's situation, but KU would seem to still be in pretty damn good shape. Obviously a lot depends on Mario and Sherron, but I think they're both going to stay. If they're both still here, you have them starting along with Cole, and two of the tremendous recruits coming in, and it will still be a pretty darn good team--especially with some great shooters coming off the bench.

April 10, 2008 at 3:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )