What's keeping Self at KU?

Posted: Friday April 11, 2008 05:25AM ET

Precisely how much it costs is yet to be determined by Bill Self, Lew Perkins and the suits who craft the contracts, as we learned during Kansas' news conference Thursday called to stop speculation about Self's coaching future. The deal's length also was vague. "A long time," was as technical as it got. When Self told Oklahoma State and its Brinks truck "no thanks," Kansas said "yes" to a compensation level that will make Self among the game's wealthiest. The ceiling is Florida's Billy Donovan, who accepted a $3.5 million annual agreement to turn down Kentucky and the Orlando Magic after the Gators' second national championship last season. The guess here is that Self won't reach that. But surely he will surpass the Big 12 standard of $2 million paid to Texas' Rick Barnes. And in the process, the basketball team will get its practice facility and better living quarters for its players, among other improvements.

Kansas City Star

Bill Self, AP

Bill Self, AP

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To those who kept writing "TAKE THE MONEY! YOU'D NOT TURN IT DOWN! IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!" in regards to Self ditching KU for OSU, you have been proved wrong and owe me an apology. I was DEAD ON. Now whip out your wallet and start forking over the dough! Sheeeeet, now if only I could pick the right lotto numbers.

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Not surprising ... The state of Oklahoma is all about the football teams. Just like in Texas. Up in Kansas its more about Basketball.

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They got lucky, if Memphis could make a damn foul shot they would have won. Why does getting lucky mean $$$?

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The chance to win more titles perhaps?

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no one owes you an apology Warden...... They just thought he'd go to OSU

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Ok State*

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Hey Bobcat, no one got lucky. Memphis wasn't good enough to make foul shots down the stretch. Teams that deserve to win make those shots. Memphis shot 61 percent from the FT line for the season and 63 percent during the last game. Stats usually average out. Kansas was the better team. U wanna talk about luck? How about the prayer that Derrick Rose threw up as the shot clock was winding down and banked in? Now that was luck.

ROCK CHALK BABY!!

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They got lucky, if Memphis could make a damn foul shot they would have won. Why does getting lucky mean $$$?
BobCat | 04/11/08, 08:41 AM

Memphis had their chance, and blew it. When opportunity knocks, you can't be in the shower.

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When you're only the eighth name on a list that begins with John Naismith, a few extra zeros on a contract can't compare. Self is well aware of his place in history and I don't see him moving unless the NBA gets fully established in OKC and comes calling with a mega-contract.

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KU didn't get lucky. They had the better team down the stretch. They kept playing when UM tapered off thinking the game was locked up. Most importantly, they took full advantage of Memphis' inability to hit FTs. Calapari knew that was a problem all season but boasted the game wouldn't come down to FTs. The basketball gods took their pound of flesh for that taunting.

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What's keeping Self at KU? Winning, reputation and money. He'll get his $3 to $3.5 million, that's for sure. And he'll keep winning and adding to KU's reputation.

As someone pointed out above, KU is all about basketball. OSU, OU, and UT, for example, are not.

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Not surprising ... The state of Oklahoma is all about the football teams. Just like in Texas. Up in Kansas its more about Basketball.

ClintInDFW | 04/11/08, 08:26 AM

One-dimensional states. Unlike Cali, we compete for national titles in everything.

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Most of the time it is about the money.... when it's not about the money, it's about winning titles. Kansas wins titles. Okalahoma State does not. The money's not to bad either way.

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If someone offered you double or triple your salary to work there, isn't that kind of like a girlfriend who insists on paying for everything and buying you presents all the time? Nice, but a little desperate perhaps? How attractive is desperate?

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Kansas won the Orange Bowl and had half the losses as our "National Champions," so saying we're only about basketball does a great insult to Gayle Sayers, John Riggins and the rest of KU's football tradition. Oh, and let us not forget KU Track and Field, with Al Oerter, Billy Mills, Jim Ryun etc.

Don't bash Kansas or we'll take back our wheat and you can all eat cornbread.

Rock Chalk.

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BobCat says:
They got lucky, if Memphis could make a damn foul shot they would have won. Why does getting lucky mean $$$?

If Kansas hadn't shot 52.7 percent field goals and Memphis only 40.3
If Kansas hadn't shot 93.3 percent free throws and Memphis only 63.2
If Kansas hadn't had 39 rebounds and Memphis only 28

Kansas outplayed them in all areas. They started fouling because Coach Self knew Memphis couldn't handle the pressure and Kansas took advantage of every opportunity!

ROCK CHALK!!!!!

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BobCat says:
They got lucky, if Memphis could make a damn foul shot they would have won. Why does getting lucky mean $$$?

If Kansas hadn't shot 52.7 percent field goals and Memphis only 40.3
If Kansas hadn't shot 93.3 percent free throws and Memphis only 63.2
If Kansas hadn't had 39 rebounds and Memphis only 28

Kansas outplayed them in all areas. They started fouling because Coach Self knew Memphis couldn't handle the pressure and Kansas took advantage of every opportunity!

ROCK CHALK!!!!!

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Gas prices?

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To those who kept writing "TAKE THE MONEY! YOU'D NOT TURN IT DOWN! IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!" in regards to Self ditching KU for OSU, you have been proved wrong and owe me an apology. I was DEAD ON. Now whip out your wallet and start forking over the dough! Sheeeeet, now if only I could pick the right lotto numbers.
The Warden | 04/11/08, 05:51 AM

Kansas will be nearly matching the reported offer that OSU offered and probably adding a couple years to his contract. That's what he was after, and thats what he got. He did'nt turn down the money, thusly you weren't dead on.

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From all indications he could have probably had more at OSU than he's getting at Kansas. He and his family wanted to stay at in Lawrence and he took advantage of his opportunity. Who wouldn't? If you could stay at your dream job and get a big raise and contract extension, wouldn't you? So, he's a smart coach and a smart business man. That's the kind of person we want running our program.

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