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del.icio.usFinal Four deficiency takes on a life of its own
DETROIT - This is where the bridge washes out. This is where Bill Self is left to explain why he cannot get his basketball team to the Final Four. He's in another Elite Eight game, his fifth, and all that stands in his way from an elusive Final Four is Davidson. Much as North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia Tech and UCLA stood in his way before.
Self is considered to be an outstanding basketball coach. He's on every Best Coach to Never Reach a Final Four list.
"Well, at least it's got 'best' as a part of it," Self said.
He has won 346 games, but it's those four losses -- North Carolina 59, Tulsa 55; Arizona 87, Illinois 81; Georgia Tech 79, KU 71 in overtime; UCLA 68, KU 55 -- he hears about most.
Not fair. Not right. Not even sensible.
But it's reality.
Self knows that the longer this No Final Four thing goes, the more it will be discussed and the more heat it will create. It's one of the major storylines concerning KU's Elite Eight game against Davidson today at Ford Field. Fortunately, Davidson brings along a lot of stories of its own, so Self won't be alone in the spotlight.
It will shine on him, though.
His college head coaching career started at Oral Roberts, where he built a strong program from the ground. ORU was 6-21 in Self's first season; three years later the Eagles were 21-7.
That earned him a promotion to Tulsa, where he was 74-27 in three seasons and led the Hurricane to an Elite Eight in 2000. At Illinois, Self was 78-24 in three seasons, including his second Elite Eight. And at KU, he has steadily made the Jayhawks better, winning 34 games this season.
You think people talk about that? Not so much.
The story with Self is that he has another chance to get to a Final Four and what's he going to do this time to blow it?
"I'm sick and tired of people talking about it," Self said. "This is the sixth time we've been to a Sweet 16 and we haven't got to the Final Four yet. So, certainly, it would be nice to get there."
Well, duh. It's as if people think Self gets this far and is satisfied. It's crazy.
Self's coaching opponent today, Bob McKillop, is beloved at Davidson for getting into the NCAA Tournament, let alone reaching the Elite Eight. And he should be -- the Wildcats play in the small Southern Conference and they have one of the country's best and most exciting players in Stephen Curry and this is an absolute party.
McKillop is being lauded as one of the best coaching minds in the country, which is fine. But he's 340-224 in 19 seasons. Self is 346-137 in 15 seasons and he's done it in a far bigger pressure cooker.
Is there a part of Self that envies McKillop?
"Well, I think every coach in America would be envious of Bob, you know, knowing that he's got (Stephen) Curry on his team," Self said.
That comment drew a laugh from reporters. But Self knew the question had a deeper meaning. Eight years ago, Self was McKillop when he led Tulsa, a 7 seed, into its Elite Eight game against North Carolina. There was no pressure, no expectation. Self was the up-and-comer whose career knew no bounds.
Now he's knee deep into a career defined as much by what he hasn't done as what he has.
"I'm disappointed that we haven't been to a Final Four yet," Self said. "It's something that I think about all the time. I mean, I think about it every day in some form or fashion. And a lot of times, many times a day."
That's an amazing admission, really, and one that most coaches in Self's position wouldn't dare make. But that's Self -- he never says what coaching decorum dictates.
"I'm sure there's a ton of expectations from people and I do feel that to some extent," he said. "But I probably don't feel it to the extent that you think exists with me because we kind of live in our own little world and we're totally oblivious to a lot of things."
Maybe so. But, believe me, Self is not oblivious to the only glaring black mark on his resume. This thing has taken on a life of its own and he would love to stomp it to death today.
"I feel the history of KU every day walking into my office," Self said. "It starts with Dr. (James) Naismith, goes to Phog Allen, goes to Dick Harp and to Wilt. Ted Owens, Larry Brown, Roy Williams, all the great players. Those are the pictures that line the hallway going into my office."
Coaching at Kansas, obviously, is different than coaching at Davidson, Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and almost every other school. That's just the way it is and Self understands KU fans expect him to lead the Jayhawks into Final Fours and win occasional national championships.
That should not be, however, the only criteria used to judge him.
"I don't know what the definition of greatness would be," Self said, asked about quantifying what sets the best coaches apart. "People will say winning games, obviously, winning championships. And that's what we'll be measured against. But in coaching circles, I really feel like giving your team the best chance, maximizing their abilities and playing as close to their ceiling as possible. I think coaches know better than anybody if you, in fact, accomplish that."
Kansas has such a high ceiling, which makes it a great place -- and a terrible place -- to coach.
Williams led the Jayhawks to four Final Fours, but never won one. What do you think people talked about most? Never winning one, of course.
Self has taken what Williams built and kept it as strong as ever. KU is 67-8 the past two seasons. But what are people talking about?
You know the answer to that.
"I feel it every day," Self said. "I don't think as a coach, though, you can put so much pressure on yourself that it's Final Four, national championship, or bust. That's not the way it is. That's the way so many people view it, though."
Yes it is. Which, in a way, makes it the way it is, fair or not.
Here's hoping Self rids himself of such an unjust criticism today and gets on to the next unjust criticism. They come with the territory when you coach basketball at Kansas.
Eagle sports columnist Bob Lutz co-hosts "Sports Daily" from 9-11 a.m. weekdays on KFH, 1240-AM and 98.7-FM. Reach him at 316-268-6597 or blutz@wichitaeagle.com.
