The past few months have been more than frustrating for the Kansas Jayhawks. Their streak of a record 14 consecutive Big 12 titles came to an end, Silvio De Sousa was declared ineligible for two seasons, Udoka Azubuike suffered a season-ending injury and the program is facing an NCAA investigation.
With all that in mind, it would have been easy for head coach Bill Self to take a new job and to have Kansas deal with the potential mess left behind. Pete Carroll (despite insisting otherwise) and Frank Haith could have related.
He’d have no shortage of options.
Self’s name has popped up in NBA rumors as of late, but the Kansas coach was quick to shoot down those rumblings on Monday. He said in an interview with the Kansas City Star:
“The Bulls thing is as far-fetched …” he told the Star on Monday. “I don’t know where that came from. I’ve never talked to anybody from the Bulls about any employment opportunities. They have a coach and I’m not a candidate for that position and will not be.”
Self continued to say that the prospect of an NCAA investigation has him more motivated than ever to remain at Kansas as head coach.
“I wouldn’t run from that at all,” he said. “Not at all. And I look forward to visiting (with the NCAA) and certainly the conclusion (of the investigation), and seeing it through. You can quote that.”
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“My motivation is as strong as ever to be the Kansas coach, to further this program, and to see the situation with the NCAA through,” Self said. “Totally through. Never say never, because you don’t know how both parties may feel, but that is my stance and I look forward to being here for a long time.”
Self has been coaching at Kansas since 2003. In that time, he’s won 14 Big 12 regular season titles, made three Final Four appearances and won a national title in 2008. Kansas has never missed an NCAA tournament under Self.
The Jayhawks will open their tournament play Thursday as a No. 4 seed against Northeastern.
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