Kansas University’s basketball players have been criticized by some media members for not sticking around to shake the hands of Bucknell’s players after a season-ending loss to the Bison on Friday night at Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
KU coach Bill Self — who learned Saturday that only Alex Galindo, C.J. Giles and Michael Lee congratulated the Bison -phoned Bucknell coach Pat Flannery to apologize.
“Coach Flannery told me the majority of our guys were standing there, and (Bucknell) kept celebrating, so they left. Some guys turned to walk away when the line formed,” Self said Tuesday. “He said, ‘Bill, don’t worry. We were running around the court like crazy.’ He said, ‘Make sure to tell your players, there’s no ill intention here.”‘
Some have been puzzled by a Keith Langford quote made after the Bucknell loss. The outspoken senior said after his eligibility as a college player expired: “Now I can sit down and express myself and say what I really want to, let people know how I really feel. Get a lot of things off my chest.”
Self asked the always-quotable Langford what he meant by the statement.
Not much, was the reply.
“He said there were some things he could probably say that had nothing to do with coaches, players, how he was coached or utilized, nothing like that,” Self said. “I think there are some things, some situations … we never let the cat out of the bag about health situations of players. I visited with Keith, and he didn’t feel good at all that it was portrayed that way (in negative manner).”
Langford has implied that his summertime knee surgery and his late-season elbow injury were worse than reported. He has refused to discuss his injuries.
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Self has not hidden out in a bunker since the loss. He has remained in Lawrence the first part of spring break and heard and read lots of criticism about his work.
“We have no excuses and will not make them. I don’t hold anybody more responsible than coaches. We accept full responsibility of what’s going on and understand what people will say,” Self said. “The only thing you could say, being a coach in a high-profile place, you understand the frustration when a 3 (seed) loses to a 14. Coaches know and players know winning the Big 12 or tying for the Big 12 championship means a pretty good year. To have great years, you’ve got to perform well in the postseason. It was a pretty good year with a really bad day.
“Knowledgeable sports fans know that sometimes you just get beat. Sometimes you just don’t play your best game. If people understood the situation with things we had to piece together (because of injuries), they’d know it shouldn’t have happened, but certainly would maybe (understand it happening).
“Some things I’ve heard from people or things I’ve seen or people told me are surprising to me,” Self said. “You don’t go from being a great program to a bad program or a program not heading in the right direction if you lose one game. Your program is bigger than one game. Still, I will not make excuses and can understand the disappointment especially when people are as passionate as they are here.”
Self visited with all of KU’s players before they headed to various locales for spring break.
“I told them to take a little time to think about the season, what I expected (for the offseason) and what would have to be done. I had a good feeling talking to them,” Self said.
Self said everybody was “rock solid,” and at this time he did not expect any changes in his roster except for losing the seniors.
“I don’t want to say positively one way or another after last year. After kids go home, their minds can be changed. I had a good feel in a positive way,” Self said.
A year ago, David Padgett had not said he was transferring until he returned to campus after a trip home to Nevada.
J.R. Giddens said Friday he was staying at KU another season and not entering the NBA draft. He has told Self the same thing.
“Supposedly he’s already made it,” Self said of Giddens making the decision to return to KU. “I think it would be in his best interest (to return).”
Self was asked if he’s bothered that former KU coach Roy Williams had maintained contact with the Jayhawk players the past two years.
“I’ll say I’d rather have no comment on that,” Self said.
He has maintained a policy of not calling his former Illinois players, saying it was proper for the players to “have one voice” until their eligibility expired.
