Cliff’s Notes: Bill Self press conference, 3/7/13

Posted by Jesse Newell March 7, 2013 at 12:40 p.m.

Here is the Cliff's Notes version from Self's comments at his press conference today.

• Self wants his guys to play with a free mind against Baylor. He doesn't want his players to burn any energy worrying about what Kansas State does earlier in its game at Oklahoma State. It's hard to not get emotionally invested in that. If Self had the choice, he'd probably rather play the earlier game. But he doesn't think it makes much difference. Self hasn't talked with his staff about whether they'll allow the guys to watch the KSU-Oklahoma State game earlier in the day.

• KU guard Elijah Johnson was the best athlete around when he first got to KU. He had some good moments early in his career. Self has always liked Elijah. He's a very analytical guy. He has been a treat to coach. Self likes to be around him. He's pumping energy into the team. Last year, Tyshawn Taylor took the pressure off everybody else by taking criticism. Good players do that. Johnson had to be that player for KU this year. Johnson did a good job of accepting that and letting it roll off his back. Once he did, it's hardened him and made him better.

• If KU wins Saturday, this will be as cool as any league title Self has won. A lot of people thought before the season it was KU and everybody else in the league race, and that didn't turn out to be the case because the Big 12 has good teams. After KU's rough stretch this year, winning the league would be a great accomplishment. KU still has work to do, but Self is looking forward to Saturday.

• Self says it's tough to play well for four straight months. Usually, teams have to go through crap during the season.

• Baylor still has a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. KU knows it will get a great effort from BU on Saturday.

• Self says no one likes sharing titles. He thinks sharing would be great if you're behind a game in the standings going into the final game. Whether the league title is shared or outright, Self knows you get a ring. If you don't share the title, you don't get a ring.

• What Andrea Hudy does with the guys is more than just helping them gain weight. She also helps with their confidence and flexibility. She's done a great job with Withey, but she's done an exceptional job with all of KU's guys.

• Self believes four guys should be in the discussion for Big 12 player of the year race: Kansas State's Rodney McGruder, Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart, Ben McLemore and Withey. Self doesn't want to say who he thinks deserves it, especially with the season not over. From Self's biased perspective, though, he thinks it's one of his two players. Guys can split the vote in these things, though, and that might come into play.

• Self said he would vote for KSU coach Bruce Weber for Big 12 coach of the year. The Wildcats have been as consistent as anyone in the league. Oklahoma State's Travis Ford and Oklahoma's Lon Kruger also have had good years. One thing KSU does really well is find ways to win coin-flip games.

• Self says Baylor ranks toward the very top of the league in terms of talent. Self picked BU to win the league in the preseason. Pierre Jackson is as talented as any guard in the country. Isaiah Austin is a lottery pick. There are a lot of teams in the country that don't have that.

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raprichard 3 months, 2 weeks ago

"Self picked BU to win the league in the preseason. Pierre Jackson is as talented as any guard in the country. Isaiah Austin is a lottery pick."

Self is no dummy, yet Baylor is sixth in the Big 12 and fighting for a NCAA birth. This just begs the question how Drew gets any recruits at all to come to Baylor. Uber-talented and unable to consistently win. Sound like a coaching issue? Yet, year after year, more talent arrives in Waco. Never to develop, never to improve, never to win a championship.

If Self thought that team was good enough to win the Big 12, imagine what he could have done with Baylor's talent this year (last year, also). Lucky for us, we will never know.

texashawk10 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Scott Drew was in contact with recruits at the same rate as Kelvin Sampson, but with the deregulation in recruiting right around the corner Drew is getting ready to lose his advantage.

milehighhawk 3 months, 2 weeks ago

The guys on 810 were talking about this earlier.

I think Drew sells guys on "you come here, you can do whatever you want."

He's not a great coach, but part of coaching is being able to bring in talent. He excels at that.

Reuben_J_Cogburn 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Get it done. No sharing.

It would be a tremendous feat to have pulled ourselves out of the abyss, but only if we win it outright.

Stay the course. Keep the faith. Down with the grapes. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

bville_hawk 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Whether it is shared or not is out of our control. If KSU wins Saturday they are guaranteed a tie for 1st. If KSU loses Saturday THEN we have the opportunity to win the title outright.

Reuben_J_Cogburn 3 months, 2 weeks ago

I am aware....I was speaking conditionally. Devote all your energy toward K-State losing, and then focus your attention on Baylor.

ParisHawk 3 months, 2 weeks ago

"No sharing" is out of our hands. Whatever KSU does, win at Baylor and the streak goes on. I wonder if the other conferences with long streaks had shared titles?

Reuben_J_Cogburn 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Understood....

I meant IF you pray, then pray for Oklahoma State to be triumphant. I am still under the ideology that if a group of people, through focus, can collectively will a team to succeed.

It's a romantic, childish notion....but sometimes that's what it takes.

Phoghorn 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Just remember, when there are upsets in the BI6 or ACC, it is because those conferences are loaded top to bottom. When there is an upset in the Big 12, it is because the conference is "down this year". At least that is what they say on the TV.

nuleafjhawk 3 months, 2 weeks ago

I think we're having a down year(s) for TV announcers.

actorman 3 months, 1 week ago

I believe that's a down decade (or century?).

CaliHawk33 3 months, 1 week ago

Ya that's why the B12 has the most total wins in the NCAA tourney since 2006... Yet every year it's a down year. I'm tired of hearing it. Particularly being on the west coast it was like that even my 1st yr in '07, and UCLA was incredible. It's just sad. The Big East can't get the recognition they did??- OH ISN'T IT INTERESTING, THE EAST COAST SPORTS NETWORK HAS never once this year MENTIONED WVUs struggles this year??? Despite them competing and winning in the Big Least /going to the tourney every year??? Dont worry- the ACC is gonna get goofy respect now, and be judged a underachievers in the tourney/ say they were all matched up with the toughest bracket... It's already a guarantee. Watch for it. It's pathetic. Anyways, go KU. It's just bogus every year just next year it's on the ACC. Lol glad to hear WVU is just in a down year- oh wait maybe if they don't mention them nobody will notice. Hope the B12 comes away with more wins in the tourney than all other conferences just like from 3005-present.... Lol. It won't end, at some point it's wiser to choose the higher road and laugh.

Phoghorn 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Gotta bring the A+ game this week. Baylor knows that they have a lot to play for. I just hope the KU team has no flaws that cause us to lose games in round buildings with domed roofs in Texas.

nuleafjhawk 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Here's the difference in Kansas and KWB (Kansas Wanna-Be) :

If indeed the title is shared, KU fans, coaches and players will consider it a huge disappointment.

If KWB gets a shared title, there will be a parade in Aggieville, School will be closed for a week and the Mayor of Manhattan will declare it Bruce Weber Day - a day to live in infamy.

Reuben_J_Cogburn 3 months, 2 weeks ago

We cannot let that happen. Do our part on the court, and let fate decide the rest.

But if fate is indeed decided by divine intervention, I find it hard to believe Jesus would side with K-State.

iamakufan 3 months, 2 weeks ago

They should enjoy the success as long as they can, which is as long as the majority of their players were recruited by Frank Martin. Weber's history indicates this and maybe the next one or two years will be his best at KSU. After that it's a long, painful slide downhill until he is once again replaced.

TRUBLUE 3 months, 1 week ago

Toooooooooo Funny, but dayum True. ha ha ha ha

TRUBLUE 3 months, 1 week ago

why doesn't this system always put a reply under who you replied to? my reply was to nuleafjhawk.

jgkojak 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Drew basically tells guys they have no rules about class, etc. I'm sure they have some funky academic set-up that allows players to pretty much do nothing (much much worse than other schools), and from what we see on the floor, that includes practice - basically, come hang out, play some ball.

April13 3 months, 2 weeks ago

He's a Calipari wannabe. The difference is that Calipari can coach - whatever else you might think of him.

Drew's act will wear thin if the recruits come but the W's don't. Though I'd like him to stay for as long as possible.

TRUBLUE 3 months, 1 week ago

right April, keep Drew at Baylor for as long as possible, as in forever. but we somehow need to get some of those recruits away from him. But I do think we are on the right track again, recruiting wise, and hopefully, it will get even better, this month! We want Randle!

thekuinthe512 3 months, 2 weeks ago

I don't like this title sharing either, I thought the football title tie breaker was who was ranked highest in the polls. Why is it different for different sports? A similar breaker would probably be favorable to us.

I agree, get it done, no share!!!! Good post!

icthawkfan316 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Disagree that it should be who is higher in the polls.

Now that it is a round-robin league and everybody plays everybody, home and away, if one team sweeps the other team the winner of the head-to-head games should be the outright champs.

It was different a couple of years KU had to share even though we lost to Texas and whoever else (OU maybe?). We were playing teams in the Big 12 South only once, and lost on our opponents' court without the chance to even up the series at home.

HouTexHawk 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Football has shared titles. OU and K-State officially shared the football title this year. KU and MU shared the Northern Division football title in 2007.

jaybate 3 months, 2 weeks ago

~To repeat myself on conference title ties:

"A tie is like kissing your sister, if your sister were Bar Rafaeli."

~"Usually, teams have to go through crap during the season." --BillSelf paraphrased by Jesse Newell

Well, talk about not overthinking a problem. :-)

~"KU guard Elijah Johnson was the best athlete around when he first got to KU. --Bill Self paraphrased by Jesse Newell

And? And? And? Still no specifics on injuries.

~"She helps players with their confidence and flexibility." --Bill Self talking about AHudy as paraphrased by Jesse Newell

Would like a little follow up on HOW she helps players with their confidence. She is such a respected part of the team, I would like more specifics on what she does to develop confidence.

~Self should be coach of the year. Weber should be interim coach of the year. Oh, well, I'm just going to have to man-up and say the guy can coach a little.

TRUBLUE 3 months, 1 week ago

Now jay bate, u r just totally over thinking this stuff. you are really learning from E.J. lilllllllllll i couldn't resist that one. I think Andrea helps players confidence, knowing that she can keep them healthier, and the flexibility thing helps them know they will probably be less likely to have serious injuries, and over all, I would have to totally agree that she helps our players with their confidence. I also agree that Self should be coach of the year, but that won't happen, since people take K.U. and him fro granted. But look at how many people said that this is the year to knock K.U. off as conference champs, and again, here we are. Weber can coach, but he is an ass. I'm surprised, that with all of the jealousy by Weber, towards Self, that he would say Weber is his Big 12 coach of the year. I would have gone with Kruger (who thought they would have this kind of season), they maybe Ford, if I couldn't vote for Self. I love reading your posts, when I have time to get on here jay bate. I think (nope, I know), u r at least, as crazy as I am. ha ha ha ha

leikness 3 months, 1 week ago

36 years of work to TIE...I almost like the idea of them winning tomorrow because that is just embarassing

TRUBLUE 3 months, 1 week ago

now that is funny, leikness! and very interesting. but I don't want them to have the satisfaction of ever getting any championships again!

stinkybulldog 3 months, 1 week ago

Scott Drew can recruit, but he has to be the worst coach at developing players. He is my least favorite coach in the Big12.

tampajhawk1 3 months, 1 week ago

OK, someone has to help me with this one. I understand that the win/loss records would be the same if both Kansas and State win tomorrow. But, after beating them in both meetings this year, how the HELL can that be a tie for first? That makes not one bit of sense to me. In the NFL, if the Chiefs and Chargers (yeah I'm old) tied for win/loss, but the Chiefs beat the Chargers head to head (let alone twice) it'd be the Chiefs headed to the playoffs. Chiefs first, Chargers second. End. Of. Story.

If both teams win tomorrow, there is absolutely no justification for a State fan to claim anything. If the situation were reversed, I'd never want us to claim half of something we lost fair and square in head-to-head competition (arguably much more valid than win/loss alone). Losing to another team TWICE in the same season? You simply cannot claim a tie. Anyone care to share the logic of a tie with me?

Oh, and what is PHOF? I read a lot but don't comment much, so I've been wanting to ask. Thanks...