KU’s Self adds to coaching awards

By Gary Bedore     Apr 4, 2009

Kansas University’s Bill Self continues to pile up coaching awards for his work during the 2008-09 season.

Self on Saturday was presented the CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year Award in a nationally televised presentation at halftime of the Michigan State/UConn Final Four game at Detroit’s Ford Field.

“It’s a humbling honor,” Self said in accepting the trophy presented by the CBS talent and production staff that worked games all season.

“I very much appreciate it, but first and foremost, I’ve got to thank our players, our staff and our university. On behalf of all of them, I thank Chevrolet for all you do for college athletics.”

CBS and Chevrolet will make a monetary donation to KU’s general scholarship fund in Self’s name. Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin was named CBS/Chevrolet Player of the Year at the same halftime ceremony Saturday.

Self on Friday was presented the Henry P. Iba Coach of the Year Award presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association of America as well as the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award.

Self also has won 2008-09 coach of the year awards as presented by the Big 12 Conference, Yahoo Sports, Sporting News, Athlon Sports and CBSsportsline.com. He’s a Naismith Coach of the Year Award finalist.

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Collins honored: KU’s Sherron Collins on Saturday was named to the 10-player State Farm Div. I All-America team as presented by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Collins was in Detroit for the awards ceremony and attended the Final Four semifinal games.

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Robinson honored: Future KU player Thomas Robinson, a 6-8 power forward from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., has been named a fourth-team Parade All-American.

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More on Henry situation: ESPN reportedly ran a scroll on the bottom of the screen Saturday indicating Xavier Henry would enroll at KU and C.J. Henry, Xavier’s older brother, would transfer from Memphis to KU and petition the NCAA to play right away. ESPN apparently cited a Rivals.com report that actually never said the decision was final.

Rivals.com, as well as the Journal-World, on Friday quoted Carl Henry, the father of the two players, as saying Xavier definitely wants to attend KU after asking out of his Memphis letter of intent. However Carl indicated three scenarios remain: the two could play at KU together, the two could play at Memphis together or the two could split up — Xavier to KU and C.J. to stay at Memphis where he red-shirted his freshman season as a walk-on.

“What is scrolling across ESPN is not true,” Carl Henry told the Daily Oklahoman. “I gave (Rivals.com) them a possible scenario of what could happen.”

Rivals correctly reported the scenario.

“They still want to play together,” Carl told the Oklahoman. “But we haven’t decided yet, we haven’t even talked.”

Meanwhile, Carl Henry told Zagsblog.net on Saturday that the Henry brothers “should have their releases from Memphis as early as Monday,” and at that point would be able to talk to coaches about a transfer.

Carl repeated to Zagsblog on Saturday what he told Rivals and the J-W. “Xavier does want to go to Kansas,” Carl said.

Zagsblog’s Adam Zagoria, who is one of the East Coast’s top recruiting analysts, said if Xavier Henry ends up at Kansas, “look for Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson to potentially end up at Maryland or St. John’s.”

Stephenson, 6-6 from Lincoln High, has a final three of KU, Maryland and St. John’s.

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Orton, Calipari meet: Daniel Orton, a 6-10, 260-pound senior center from Oklahoma City’s McGuinness High, met with new Kentucky coach John Calipari on Wednesday. Orton, who signed with Kentucky over KU and others last November, has not yet decided whether he’ll attend UK following the firing of Billy Gillispie.

“He (Calipari) was here for about one hour,” Daniel’s father, Larry, told the Daily Oklahoman. “The visit went good. We are still waiting (to see what happens),” added Larry, who wants to talk in-depth with Calipari on how he plans on using Daniel in his system at Kentucky.

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Drew to stay at Baylor: Baylor’s Scott Drew removed himself from consideration Saturday night to become the University of Memphis basketball coach, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported. CBSsports.com says Memphis will now possibly consider Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton and former New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus.

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Salary info: Here are the salaries of the Big 12 coaches (per year) as reported by the Daily Oklahoman: Self, $3 million; Texas’ Rick Barnes $2 million; Missouri’s Mike Anderson, $1.55 million; Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford, $1.3 million; Texas A&M’s Mark Turgeon, $1.2 million; Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel, $1.05 million (new contract on the way); Nebraska’s Doc Sadler, $800,000; Iowa State’s Greg McDermott, $800,000; Kansas State’s Frank Martin, $760,000; Colorado’s Jeff Bzdelik, $750,000. Texas Tech’s Pat Knight is paid the median range of Big 12 coaches. Baylor will not reveal Scott Drew’s salary.

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Aldrich cheers: KU soph center Cole Aldrich enjoyed supporting KU’s women’s team during its postseason run to the title game of the NIT.

“It’s a blast to come out here and support another team of ours. We don’t have the opportunity to come out and support our women’s team that many times,” Aldrich said from Allen Fieldhouse, site of Wednesday’s semifinal victory over Illinois State and Saturday’s title-game loss to South Florida.

Aldrich, who is still wearing a boot in response to the stress reaction in his left foot, said he does not need surgery. He said he’ll wear the boot, “about another week until it’s totally healed.”

Self says he’ll gather information on the NBA Draft stock of Aldrich and Collins and speak with the two later this week. Draftexpress.com’s Jonathan Givony believes Aldrich definitely “is returning to Kansas for his junior season.”

Cole’s dad, Walt, told Charlie Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press on Saturday that his son probably will return for his junior year, “so he can get bigger and stronger.”

Of his and Collins’ future, Cole said this week: “We’re just trying to rest our bodies right now and enjoy the little time we’ve had off. We’ve been busy the last seven months. We’re enjoying the week off.”

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