Coach Bill Self tweets commentary during KU-Memphis 2008 national-title game on CBS
Stuck at home because of COVID-19 coronavirus concerns that have shut down the country, Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self joined Jayhawks fans online in commenting on a Sunday morning replay of the 2008 NCAA championship game on CBS.
That’s the game, of course, in which Kansas rallied from a nine-point deficit with 2:12 left to defeat Memphis 75-68 in overtime at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
“Coming out of Twitter retirement to live tweet … I feel pretty good about this one,” Self wrote on Twitter 30 minutes before the televised replay. “In normal times we’d be prepping to play in Omaha today,” Self added of what would have been a second-round 2020 NCAA Tournament contest Sunday in Nebraska. “Remember the 2020 studs and the year they had as we watch past KU legends in a few minutes.”
The 2019-20 Jayhawks’ season ended last March 12 when the NCAA called off the postseason tourney because of the virus.
Right before tipoff Sunday, Self tweeted: “I’ve watched this game 50 times. But not in a decade. Excited to watch.”
KU trailed 9-3 early, prompting Self to type: “OK. Slow start. But I know I told guys (in the huddle), ‘The game really starts now.’ We’re active both ends. But so is Memphis. They are terrific defensively as well. And how about those shorts.”
Coincidentally, at that point, former KU forward Scot Pollard, who was in on the fun from his home in Indiana, tweeted: “9-3 Memphis. Game over. It’s a blowout. No need to watch any more. I’ll bet nothing exciting happens.”
After KU’s Sasha Kaun failed to convert inside, Self tweeted: “Sasha, you blew that assist. But you can catch lobs. Next to Doke (Azubuike) the best we’ve had.”
At halftime, with KU up five, Mario Chalmers, who would ultimately hit an overtime-inducing three-pointer with 2.1 ticks left in regulation, tweeted: “Second half. It’s about to get real.”
Yes, Chalmers watched and also offered live tweet commentary of the game Sunday. He recently made it back to the United States from Greece, where he was playing pro ball until coronavirus forced stoppage of his season.
Former KU guard Tyrel Reed provided some comic relief in the second half Sunday, tweeting: “At this point in the game I started to really hammer the Gatorade. I knew an impending (NCAA) drug test was waiting for me after the game.”
Reed wrote during the second half he was “initially nervous … with two minutes left terrified … overtime was calm as a cucumber.”
After Memphis scored against a zone defense to grab a four-point lead (off a 7-0 run) with 7:30 left, Self tweeted: “Ok. They have momentum. I made mistake. Had done a good job on Derrick (Rose, Memphis freshman guard). Then I go box and 1 a possession. He makes a 3 to get going. I’m an idiot.”
Self added in another tweet: “Who says I never play zone? That’s why I never do.”
Shortly after, when KU’s deficit grew to seven points in crunch time, Self tweeted: “A buddy just texted now and told me to relax. Just tell Mario to take last shot.”
In retrospect, down nine late, Self could have relaxed, because as he tweeted Sunday: “Ok from this point forward watch body language of our guys. It’s perfect. No stooped shoulders. No pointing fingers. No head hung. Total maturity. Proudest moment of a coach.”
Of Sherron Collins’ three, which cut the late deficit to 60-56, Self tweeted: “Boom.”
That refers to Collins’ yelling “Boom’”after he released the ball from the corner.
Reacting to Chalmers’ shot to tie the game with 2.1 seconds left, Self tweeted: “We knew we were running chop. Sherron made play, Rio made shot. Unreal. So poised. Made one 3 the first 38 min made 2 in last 2.”
On Sunday, right before the shot appeared on TV, Chalmers tweeted: “Give me the ball. I got it.”
Self recalled his players being enthused in the huddle prior to the start of overtime.
“My guys were saying it’s over. I’m saying what are you talking about. But watch first 3 possessions they are perfect. And I mean perfect,” Self said of KU’s play to open OT.
With under a minute left and KU holding a five-point lead, Self joked: “Did Memphis squirt water on court?” That was after Collins slipped and thus, turned it over.
At the end of overtime, in which KU outscored Memphis 12-5, Self tweeted: “Watch how we celebrate and get back in line to shake hands. We had so much respect for situation and Memphis.”
Self concluded the two-hour tweet-fest with this message: “What a game. What a team. What a group of individuals. They spoiled us. What a privilege to be their coach. Joe (Dooley) Kurtis (Townsend) Danny (Manning) Ronnie (Chalmers) Mike Lee, what a staff. Thanks for giving me the ride of my life. Love you all.”
He added: “I hope this provided a little entertainment during these times. Stay safe and healthy.”
Self’s live-tweeting apparently was a hit with KU fans who are also cooped up at home because of the pandemic.
“Bill Self live tweeting the 2008 National Championship is bringing me so much joy during such a weird time,” fan Macy Barbee wrote on Twitterr.
“Just what we all needed,” tweeted Nicole Lynch-Porter.
“That was great! Thank you!” tweeted Trent Rains.
Fan Cynthia Wendt wrote: “It was great, seeing your tweets, as well as tweets from players, alumni, broadcasters. The whole Jayhawk community. Wish we were playing live, but...”
Self recently was asked to compare his 28-3 Jayhawks of 2019-20 to the 2008 champs. The Jayhawks were going to be the overall No. 1 seed in the 2020 tourney.
“When you stop to think about it,” Self said, “we have more speed at point guard (Devon Dotson) now than then (Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins). That team had so much more depth. The 2008 team had so much more depth even though we only played 7 1/2 guys. Those guys were all pros.
“That team shot it better. That team passed it better. That team did not have a Udoka who could be a monster inside and it didn’t have quite the speed Devon had to get downhill.”
Those from the 2008 KU team who went on to play pro ball included Chalmers, Collins, Robinson, Kaun, Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Darnell Jackson and Cole Aldrich.
“College basketball isn’t going to have a team that good in the near future,” Self said of the ’08 champs. “Kids stayed in school longer. Sasha, Darnell and Russell were seniors. Mario and Brandon juniors. Shady (Arthur) and Sherron were sophomores. Now Shady and Sherron would never get to their sophomore year. They’d already be gone. It will be hard for college teams to be that good.”
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 2:51 PM with the headline "Coach Bill Self tweets commentary during KU-Memphis 2008 national-title game on CBS."
