On Friday, the Tulsa World’s Berry Tramel reported that Kansas head coach Bill Self “seriously considered” taking the job at Oklahoma State after the Cowboys parted ways with Mike Boynton last spring.
However, Self opted to stay in Lawrence for Year 22, and on Saturday, his Jayhawks will play host to the very team at the center of Tramel’s report.
Naturally, Self was asked about the report in the hours following the report and had this to say about the situation, according to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.
“I spoke to them, answered questions about the job & offered my opinion about what is needed to win in our league,” Self told McMurphy. “Which I have done every time the job has opened. They got the right guy (in Steve Lutz). I did join Karsten Creek, one of the country’s top golf courses, as an out-of-area member, but I’ve never spent a night close to Stillwater in the last 20 years unless my team was playing there.”
Here’s a look at his press conference addressing the same issue.
It would’ve been quite a shock had Self left Kansas after 21 seasons to take on a new challenge in Stillwater, but after all the turmoil he’s dealt with in recent years, is it really that crazy?
Self, 62, is an Oklahoma native, born in Okmulgee and played basketball for the Pokes from 1981-85. He also served as an assistant under Leonard Hamilton and Eddie Sutton (1986-1993) before taking his first head coaching job at Oral Roberts.
Since then, Self has become one of the most accomplished coaches in basketball, leading the Jayhawks to two national titles and 24 total Big 12 Championships between regular season and tournament titles, and is a two-time AP College Coach of the Year.
Self will welcome his would-be suitors to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday when the 23rd-ranked Jayhawks (17-9, 8-7 Big 12) host Oklahoma State (13-13, 5-10 Big 12).
