Bill Self
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I liked seeing Vaughn on the sidelines this season. Even running the show for a bit when Bill got tossed a few weeks ago. A KU fan favorite, 20 years in the NBA - 10 as a player and 10 coaching… seems like a pretty good fit.
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While HCBS indicated that he hasn't made any decision - and the decision will certainly be his to make - the question is whether it is in the best interests of KU basketball going forward for there to be a change (putting aside who might replace him)? Let me note that I have been and am a fan. I was also a fan of Williams, but Self eclipsed him in the KU pantheon. Indeed, I think that whenever he hangs it up, he will be considered one of of the top 10-15 college coaches all-time given two Natties, 14 consecutive conference titles, consecutive 20 win seasons, and overall tournament record.
Whether it is coaching style/scheme, talent assessment, and/or player development in the NIL era, it is objectively the case that KU is no longer the national, or even conference, powerhouse that characterized most of Self's tenure. The past three years have been especially painful. No conference titles (actually, tie for 6th, 6th and tie for 3rd). No conference tournament titles. Double digit losses each season. Exactly two wins in the NCAA - against #13 seeds Samford and Cal Baptist. Offensive efficiency metrics in the 50s nationally. Multiple blowout (+20pt) losses. Multiple losses at AFH each season. And its not just the past three seasons. Putting aside the championship year (a really good team with multiple NBA players, but one that also benefited from a relatively easy path to the title (seedwise), the only other NCAA tournament wins since 2018 were against #13, #14, and #16 seeds. Just one conference tournament title since 2018. During that time, Houston, AU, ISU and TTU have had more conference and NCAA tournament success.
Those are objective facts. Then there are the subjective observations - lousy team chemistry (at least during the Dickinson years), poor roster construction, seemingly favoring less talented players (Juan as the starting PG for a decade?), running the same sets again and again, switching every thing allowing opponents to dictate mismatches, lack of bench production (are there really 200+ other teams that have better bench players than KU), shortening rotations early in year and not allowing new/younger players to play through mistakes...And, so on...
Is there any reason that we should expect or hope for anything different next year or the year after that???
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I think it's a bad year to be looking for a coach. I also look a Pitino (dinosaur?) who left the NCAA for several years under some dark clouds that were embarrassing and was able to revise his game outside of the spotlight (oversees, then to Iona). Izzo hasn't won a championship since 2000, but has great character and is admired.
Personally, I think Self is admired and needs to be give more time to adjust. It's very different and difficult to do it under the microscope of a legendary program like KU.
That said, none of the objective points above are invalid at all. It's worrisome and uncomfortable right now. Learning often feels that way... and we are all collectively on for the ride.
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I would say we should know his answer probably in a few months or so
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Mike Vernon put out his email latter and it not sounding to good but no Decision Has been made
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I was talking to a good friend of KJ Adams earlier and the vibe around the program is Bill probably calls it. Early names I’d watch: Ben McCollum and Ryan Odom. I’m sure they’ll run the race with May, Golden, etc. but not sure they’re gettable.
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Have been impressed with Odom. Would suck for UVA but think good for us.
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If and when, my vote is Ben McCollum. Winner at every level. Personality fits.
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I hope he makes his decision soon for sure so we can get the next guy without losing the entire roster. Unfortunately I still feel Bill hasn’t been the same since that first heart episode. He needs to hang it up and relax, enjoy the fruits of his labor and retire as a legend. I would love for him to come back and do a curtain call in the final four, I just don’t think he is capable of doing such. I could see us not making the ncaa tournament next season regardless of whom is coaching. Gurley was on ESPN Wichita this morning and they ask him about which players he thought would stay and he said we would be very lucky to keep 3. Not a positive look at all right now.
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LOL - Job swap for Hubert Davis and Bill Self for a year.
But seriously, does anyone else find it interesting that for all the respect that Self gets for being an elite coaching mind, there doesn't seem to be much of a coaching tree to climb and pick fruit. I don't know if that's a misconception or if the former players are too young, many still in their player career, or product of the kinds of players he tended to recruit.
It just feels different from Larry Brown and even Roy Williams. And very different from Phog Allen and Coach K.
The coaching tree is probably the #1 consideration when Duke and UNC go looking for a successor. But with KU, if we wanted to follow that path, it seems pretty barren.
Rock Chalk!
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@bskeet other than Jeremy Case and KJ being on staff seems like most the guys have either moved on from the game or are coaching HS ball. But yes there isn’t any coaching tree at all right now.
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The coaching tree is probably the #1 consideration when Duke and UNC go looking for a successor. But with KU, if we wanted to follow that path, it seems pretty barren.
Add its a bad way to go.
Matt Doherty was a failure and now Davis is.
Sheyer was a recruiter and walked into an easy situation regarding that. But he could be a Coach Cal at best. Years of wasting talent.IMO you hire the best coach in their 40s, and I don't want anyone who's won a title previously. You want a great coach that beleives he needs a blue bloods resources and prestige to be the best.
A douche like Golden would come in thinking he is already the man. If Kansas hired Golden, I'd 100% stop watching. The NIL and transfer portal already have me close. Kansas hiring a complete doucebag like Golden would definitely be enough for me to bail.
I really like McCollum.
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100% agree on Golden - can't stand that guy and can't imagine being a KU fan with him as the face of the team. Yuck. Praying that doesn't happen. Tommy Lloyd would be my top choice.
