Kansas basketball coach Bill Self told members of the media at the Big 12 men’s basketball tipoff Wednesday at the T-Mobile Center.
The University of Kansas men’s basketball program received initial notice of the allegations from the NCAA in September 2019.
It’s October 2022 and the NCAA violation lawsuit against KU Hoops still has no resolution, but it’s authoritative that the ongoing investigation has not materially harmed Coach Bill Self’s Jayhawks program. can be said.
KU was charged with five Level 1 violations three years ago and has since won two Big 12 basketball championships and, of course, a national title.
Self, who is in his 20th season with Lawrence, said Wednesday at the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Media Day at the T-Mobile Center, “We won in ’22 and ’20.” We would have been #1 seeded overall in 2020 if it hadn’t been for the NCAA Tournament canceled due to COVID.
“And that was the height of adoption under that cloud.”
Noting that his team continues to sign high-level players while they’re investigating, or at least waiting for the issue to be resolved, Self briefly said:
Noting that he did not sign a one-off type of prospect who may have feared that his year in college could be adversely affected by the possibility, Self said, “It There are some things that didn’t happen because of.” NCAA sanctions. “But in the long run, it was probably lucky for us[in hiring].”
Self goes on to explain: It certainly hurts us, but some of the “non-acquisitions” back then turned into incredible “acquisitions.”
“Look at Ochai[Agbaji]Dahuan Harris, Christian Brown[who didn’t make the top 20 nationally in high school]. I’m not sure we’ll have it just depends on what you get, it’s all different, if you got Caleb Tarchewski you got Joel Embiid Is it? The answer is no.”
Self and his assistant already have three commitments from the highly regarded guards in the 2023 class.
“We have a great staff, and they also say everyone is following their own schedule,” said Self. “We were really lucky that the players were on schedule…they weren’t impatient.
“Ochai could have left (to the NBA after three years), but he came back (and led KU to a national title). A deal with an NBA team, said Self), and he’s back.
Self did not provide a forecast on Wednesday as to when the NCAA case will be completed.
Self said he was “frank with everyone” regarding the recruitment of high school players, whose lawsuits are ongoing.
“I tell them what I know and I tell them what I am allowed to tell them,” he said. I think that’s what everyone involved in it wanted.It’s not like that.We know what we’re dealing with.Our team of lawyers and everything is hard. We are feeling very positive about where we are.
“[Waiting for years]was obviously not good and we didn’t want to deal with it, but[but]the families we talk to know exactly where we are. You want them to choose a destination, a school, because it’s the best place for your son to spend this time in college, because then it puts him in the position to live his best life. It didn’t work, and that’s no excuse.”
On receiving commitments from guards Chris Johnson, Elmarco Jackson and Jamalie McDowell in the 2023 class, Self called it a “good start.”
“We have three promises. “I have three promises. I did.”
The difference now is that transfers have become much more common, so coaches are often unsure about who will remain in the program and who may leave.
“We got off to a good start,” Self repeated. “I feel good about it.”
Gary Bedore covers all aspects of Kansas basketball in The Star. He attended his KU and was born and raised in Chicago and Lyle, Illinois.
