Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self and a group of friends flew to Detroit May 14 to watch Larry Brown’s Philadelphia 76ers meet the Detroit Pistons in Game Five of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“If you’d have told any of us at that time coach Brown would be coaching the Pistons a couple weeks later we’d have never believed it,” Self said Monday, the day Brown was hired to replace Rick Carlisle as Pistons’ coach.
“It’s amazing how these things happen. It’s kind of like my situation (leaving Illinois for KU in April). You are totally into one situation, and then all of a sudden things change.”
Self, who worked for Brown during KU’s 1985-86 Final Four season, said he was happy for the former Jayhawk coach, who signed a five-year deal worth $25 million.
“It’s amazing how many lives he’s touched when you think about it,” Self said of the 62-year-old Hall of Famer, whose coaching tree includes two men in the NBA Finals — former KU assistant coach R.C. Buford, now general manager of the San Antonio Spurs, and Gregg Popovich, Spurs’ head coach who spent a year on Brown’s KU staff (1986-87 season) while on sabbatical from Pomona-Pitzer College.
Long-time Brown buddy and business associate Doug Compton of Lawrence said he was a bit surprised Brown had surfaced in Detroit just a week after resigning his Philadelphia post.
Brown called Compton last Thursday, and the coach said he’d interviewed with Cleveland, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers, not mentioning Detroit.
“I said, ‘Where are you leaning?’ He said, ‘Probably Cleveland,”‘ Compton said.
“To be honest, if I had to bet I’d have almost bet he’d have picked the Clippers because his wife Shelly is from Los Angeles and I know how much she loves the beach. I told Larry I just hoped he’d do what’s best for his family because he’s been leaning toward this move being his last move.”
Compton said Brown had taken a great interest in KU since Self was named coach.
“Every day he’ll ask, ‘How is Bill doing?”‘ Compton said. “Larry’s always been interested because he and Roy (Williams) are close, but Bill worked for Larry and I think you get even more interested when you feel you have that connection.”
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Drew back in school: Former KU forward Drew Gooden is taking six hours of summer-school classes during the first session.
Gooden, who finished his NBA rookie season with the Orlando Magic after being traded from Memphis, is serious about attaining his degree in communications.
“He took a couple classes this past year — directed studies,” said Wayne Walden, KU director of degree and career counseling/student support services. “It still could be a couple years (to get degree) because he can only take a few classes here and there, but he’s doing a nice job. He’s firm on his desire to get a degree.”
Gooden knows the value of academics, thanks to his dad.
“My ninth grade year I didn’t play basketball. The reason is I got an F in one of my classes. I got an F in P.E.,” Gooden explained. “It was for not listening. My father sat me down and told me, ‘You can’t play basketball this year.’ It was an embarrassment to myself and my family. My dad took me on AAU trips to watch. I didn’t see a basketball for a year.
“After that, I set goals for myself. It told me I needed to get my priorities right, for school. The next semester I got a 3.5. I had a dream to play college basketball and get a college degree.”
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Manning talks to Self: Self met with former KU All-American Danny Manning last week about the vacancy on KU’s coaching staff.
“We’ve had a chance to visit with Danny and visit with some other people. I’m not ready to announce anything,” Self said. “We’re hopeful everything works out. A lot of times people want to hurry up and finalize things. We’re not in a hurry. It takes time. I want to make sure I’m comfortable with everything.”
All indications are Ben Miller, who coached on Williams’ staff the past 10 years, will remain on board.
“We’ve offered him a position here. Nothing’s been publicly said,” Self said. “Ben’s approaching the job every day like he plans on being here. I just feel very comfortable with our staff right now.”
Manning and Miller have had no comment on the situation.
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House hunting: Self, whose wife and two children will soon join him in town, hopes to abandon an apartment for a house. “We’re getting closer,” Self said of locating a house.
