Interview with Kansas Head Coach Bill Self

Reflecting on his 1st Season at KU

By Kristi Chartrand

April 1st, 2004

The Kansas Jayhawks started the season with great promise after coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances. The season ended after a disappointing 79-71 overtime-loss in the Elite 8 to Georgia Tech. The journey in between was anything but easy.

Head Coach Bill Self went 24-9 in his first season at the helm. We asked the coach to reflect on his maiden journey at KU with some Q&A.

Question: Now that the season is over can you assess your first year at Kansas as head coach?

Bill Self: It's been an interesting year. Anytime you have transition it definitely isn't quite as easy getting comfortable. But I really enjoyed this year. I enjoyed the players immensely. It wasn't always easy but certainly, I'm really proud of how the players responded to some adversity and how they played down the stretch.

Question: What was the biggest surprise for you this season?

Bill Self: I don't know if there were a lot of surprises. I really think we were fairly well-braced for what the job entailed. Probably the biggest, pleasant surprise; and it could be a negative also, is just the interest level of the basketball program in all aspects. Very rarely is there anything at all that flies under the radar concerning your program, and there's not very many places in America like that.

Question: You've taken two other programs to the Elite 8. Those teams were comprised of kids who hadn't been "there" before (meaning the Final Four). What was it like having players with so much experience?

Bill Self: I think in some ways it made it easier and in some ways made it more difficult because obviously they were good players, and obviously they have experience playing in big games which was always a huge bonus. The negative is I don't know if at times this year we were as hungry as some teams that haven't been there before. But certainly, the way we played down the stretch we certainly played with equal hunger as anybody else in America.

Question: Is there one moment or memory that sticks out in your mind from this season more then any other?

Bill Self: Winning at Missouri. It wasn't because we won at Missouri. It was because of how we won it. We had just lost 4 straight games on the road and that's the game that really turned things in a positive direction.

Question: Fans were chanting "Wait 'til next year" as the game ended Sunday at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. What things have to happen in the offseason to make a trip back to St. Louis for a Final Four appearance?

Bill Self: Individual skill development this summer. Without question health. We need all our guys to heal. Getting our new incoming guys acclimated and get them ready to where they're able to help us some next year.

Question: This team has undergone an evolution this season. I know it was a long season, and a long evolution period but in short-form can you talk about how this Kansas team evolved over time.

Bill Self: We went from a talented healthy team (at the beginning of the season) that probably didn't play with much hunger, to a beat up team that played their tails off.

NOTES:

*After speaking with Coach Self, it's clear he's disappointed the Jayhawks did not advance, but extremely proud of the effort and toughness his team showed.

*Health is truly a key now, and in the future. Junior Keith Langford produced decent numbers but clearly labored due to a bad knee. He was due to have surgery today.

All-Big XII selection Wayne Simien has had a groin injury that required countless hours in the training room for treatment. He will rehab, but will not be allowed to participate in basketball activities for 6 weeks.

Freshman star J.R. Giddens has re-injured the same foot he suffered a stress fracture in last season. He will be forced to wear a cast for 6 to 8 weeks, then he'll be re-evaluated.

Senior Bryant Nash and Senior Jeff Graves are also nursing injuries.

* Help is also on the way from Self's incoming freshmen class. 6-1 guard Russell Robinson be able to spell Aaron Miles at the point guard position next season. Miles logged more minutes this season then any other player on the roster.

The rest of this class is also expected to contribute immediately and have an impact in their first year. Still no word on a decision by Malik Hairston. Self has a terrific recruiting class and Hairston would truly be the icing on the cake. Hairston could make KU a preseason Final Four-favorite, if they're not already.

* Self and his staff will talk to the entire team and each player individually next week about the offseason, their goals, and their roles on this team.

*Coach Self is headed for the Final Four in San Antonio where he will attend meetings and also do some work for CBS.

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