I can't remember the last time the media room was as packed as it was today. I arrived about 30 minutes before the start and the news guys had cameras up all over the place. I kind of expected the scene to be what it was, but until you see it, you just never know. The way things played out today is exactly what I expected. You had some people talking about Bill Self stepping down and Jay Wright being in town on Monday, the day of the National Championship game, which obviously wasn't true. The minute that Self walked into the media room, the smile never left his face. He looks like he's dropped some weight and was really excited and fired up to be in attendance.
Self, on Monday, made it clear that he's 100 percent committed to coaching Kansas, and plans to do so for an extended period of time. I thought he might walk away in a handful of years, and that may be the case, but I didn't get that impression following today's press conference. I think Self is going to coach as long as he can, and after the fire and passion I saw and heard today, I don't see his run ending anytime soon.
Here's a quote from today that I can't stop thinking about.
"So my goal is to take this place to a whole different level that we've never been to before, and we've been to a really high level," said Self. "I know I need to have my energy and I need to be healthy and feeling good in order for us to do that, and I'm believing this spring is the first step to us getting to that level."
The best coach in college basketball walked into today's press conference and absolutely smashed it out of the park. He Self knows what Kansas is losing, Jalen Wilson made it official today, and what they may lose, Kevin McCullar, Jr. (likely), moving forward. However, he's been working the transfer portal hard and has a good feeling about the four newcomers set to arrive this summer.
"Well, that is a way too early state because if I'm not mistaken, with the starters that you're going to lose, even though it hadn't been announced yet. But we're going to lose starters. I know Gradey announced, but Kevin and J-Will (has since announced) haven't made announcements yet. I don't know exactly what they are, but I know the direction in which they're leaning. We got to get some work done in the portal. We've got four commitments. Those four commitments I'm excited about. We got good players coming. But you return one, you return KJ, who two incredibly important pieces that every championship team needs. You know, got Ernest, you got Zubi, Kyle. We still don't know exactly what the situation is with Kyle, but everybody else is gone. Which creates opportunity now for us to go out and try to recruit three of the best players in America to come in here and fill those spots. So we've got work to do before we're a top 10 team, but I'm really hopeful within weeks everybody would say they should be ranked higher than a top 10 team.
"I think, obviously we need some height on the perimeter that can shoot, hopefully, play-making athleticism. We want guys that shoot 40% from three, 60% from two, and 90% from the line and they're more athletic than everybody else and they never turn it over. Okay, that's what we want. Then we need a big guy. We need a big guy go out and get 20 and 10. So if we could get that done then I think we're going to be in pretty good shape. But certainly, I feel like we're in on some good kids."
Currently, Kansas has a number of guys they are looking at in the portal. Nick Timberlake is set to visit Kansas this weekend and I know that Kansas is involved with Hunter Dickinson and others. The look inside Self's eyes today and the sound coming from his voice painted a very clear picture of his expectations today and moving forward. There wasn't a single ounce of concern or doubt in his voice or in his body language.
I think Self needed to deliver a clear message today, and he did that for sure.
Self, on Monday, made it clear that he's 100 percent committed to coaching Kansas, and plans to do so for an extended period of time. I thought he might walk away in a handful of years, and that may be the case, but I didn't get that impression following today's press conference. I think Self is going to coach as long as he can, and after the fire and passion I saw and heard today, I don't see his run ending anytime soon.
Here's a quote from today that I can't stop thinking about.
"So my goal is to take this place to a whole different level that we've never been to before, and we've been to a really high level," said Self. "I know I need to have my energy and I need to be healthy and feeling good in order for us to do that, and I'm believing this spring is the first step to us getting to that level."
The best coach in college basketball walked into today's press conference and absolutely smashed it out of the park. He Self knows what Kansas is losing, Jalen Wilson made it official today, and what they may lose, Kevin McCullar, Jr. (likely), moving forward. However, he's been working the transfer portal hard and has a good feeling about the four newcomers set to arrive this summer.
"Well, that is a way too early state because if I'm not mistaken, with the starters that you're going to lose, even though it hadn't been announced yet. But we're going to lose starters. I know Gradey announced, but Kevin and J-Will (has since announced) haven't made announcements yet. I don't know exactly what they are, but I know the direction in which they're leaning. We got to get some work done in the portal. We've got four commitments. Those four commitments I'm excited about. We got good players coming. But you return one, you return KJ, who two incredibly important pieces that every championship team needs. You know, got Ernest, you got Zubi, Kyle. We still don't know exactly what the situation is with Kyle, but everybody else is gone. Which creates opportunity now for us to go out and try to recruit three of the best players in America to come in here and fill those spots. So we've got work to do before we're a top 10 team, but I'm really hopeful within weeks everybody would say they should be ranked higher than a top 10 team.
"I think, obviously we need some height on the perimeter that can shoot, hopefully, play-making athleticism. We want guys that shoot 40% from three, 60% from two, and 90% from the line and they're more athletic than everybody else and they never turn it over. Okay, that's what we want. Then we need a big guy. We need a big guy go out and get 20 and 10. So if we could get that done then I think we're going to be in pretty good shape. But certainly, I feel like we're in on some good kids."
Currently, Kansas has a number of guys they are looking at in the portal. Nick Timberlake is set to visit Kansas this weekend and I know that Kansas is involved with Hunter Dickinson and others. The look inside Self's eyes today and the sound coming from his voice painted a very clear picture of his expectations today and moving forward. There wasn't a single ounce of concern or doubt in his voice or in his body language.
I think Self needed to deliver a clear message today, and he did that for sure.
