JimBob
04-09-2008, 09:05 AM
Bill Self Scenarios
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
4/9/2008
Three reasons Bill Self could leave Kansas for Oklahoma State:
1. $$$. It's good to be wanted. It's better to be wanted to such a degree that, financially, you could be set for life.
2. Oklahoma is home. Self grew up in this state and played basketball at OSU. His wife, Cindy, is a former OSU cheerleader. Self had second thoughts about leaving Tulsa when he took the Illinois job. Let's see if he wants to come back.
3. The monkey is off Self's back. Self has nothing left to prove at Kansas because he won a national championship there. If he had lost to Memphis in the title game, he would still have unfinished business at KU. Perhaps the lure of having a new mountain to climb will be appealing.
Three reasons Bill Self wouldn't leave Kansas for OSU:
1. Kansas is a destination job. Sure, OSU has tradition, too. But KU has been to six Final Fours and won two national championships since 1988.
2. History suggests it is easier to recruit great players to Kansas. More than two dozen McDonald's All-Americans have played at KU. OSU has had three -- Glendon Alexander (who transferred from Arkansas), Byron Eaton and James Anderson. The Cowboys signed another McDonald's All-American, but Gerald Green chose the NBA instead of college.
3. The monkey is off Self's back. He got to a Final Four, where he beat predecessor Roy Williams in a national semifinal game, and then watched his team stage a thrilling comeback to beat Memphis in the title game. Now Self is beloved in Lawrence instead of being the guy who used to lose first-round NCAA Tournament games, and Jayhawk fans should be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
4/9/2008
Three reasons Bill Self could leave Kansas for Oklahoma State:
1. $$$. It's good to be wanted. It's better to be wanted to such a degree that, financially, you could be set for life.
2. Oklahoma is home. Self grew up in this state and played basketball at OSU. His wife, Cindy, is a former OSU cheerleader. Self had second thoughts about leaving Tulsa when he took the Illinois job. Let's see if he wants to come back.
3. The monkey is off Self's back. Self has nothing left to prove at Kansas because he won a national championship there. If he had lost to Memphis in the title game, he would still have unfinished business at KU. Perhaps the lure of having a new mountain to climb will be appealing.
Three reasons Bill Self wouldn't leave Kansas for OSU:
1. Kansas is a destination job. Sure, OSU has tradition, too. But KU has been to six Final Fours and won two national championships since 1988.
2. History suggests it is easier to recruit great players to Kansas. More than two dozen McDonald's All-Americans have played at KU. OSU has had three -- Glendon Alexander (who transferred from Arkansas), Byron Eaton and James Anderson. The Cowboys signed another McDonald's All-American, but Gerald Green chose the NBA instead of college.
3. The monkey is off Self's back. He got to a Final Four, where he beat predecessor Roy Williams in a national semifinal game, and then watched his team stage a thrilling comeback to beat Memphis in the title game. Now Self is beloved in Lawrence instead of being the guy who used to lose first-round NCAA Tournament games, and Jayhawk fans should be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.