KU coach Bill Self remains ‘totally confident with how we conduct our business’
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said Wednesday he was not allowed to comment on the allegations regarding his team that have surfaced from the Adidas court case in New York.
Self still broached a wide range of topics — including the ramifications of the recent news — during a radio conversation on WHB (810 AM) during Big 12 media day at the Sprint Center.
“Even though it has been uncomfortable, I still know how we do conduct our business,” Self said of recent allegations regarding KU players and coaches. “That does not create as much stress as what maybe some people out there think it would.”
Self, when later asked about his program, reiterated he was “totally confident with how we conduct our business. Totally confident.” He said he was not permitted to speak on the topic and would release a statement once the trial ends.
The jury reached a guilty verdict later Wednesday in New York. After the trial concluded, Self read a prepared statement as part of a news conference Wednesday night in Lawrence in which he said he could not comment on elements of the trial or address information “that has the potential to be related to a future inquiry.”
“While I cannot specifically comment, I can say that we all know shoe companies have influence on all levels of basketball. They work hard to develop brand loyalty with top high school prospects, and they have some influence with them, which is totally permissible under NCAA guidelines,” Self said. “When recruiting prospective student-athletes, my staff and I have not and do not offer improper inducements to them or their families to influence their college decisions, nor are we aware of any third-party involvement to do so.”
Earlier Wednesday, KU announced sophomore Silvio De Sousa would be held out of games while the school looks into his eligibility. Self said that process would involve both the school and the NCAA.
De Sousa will continue to practice with the team every day, Self said. KU plays the first of two exhibition games Thursday against Emporia State.
“I don’t see it as being a huge negative,” Self said on WHB, when asked about how De Sousa being out with impact his team’s rotation. “I do see it as being a good player we don’t have at our disposal Thursday or however long it would be, based on the review.”
Self described it as “unsettling” to see media reports that would “in any way, shape or form equate us to being a part of that federal proceedings.”
“I’m not running from this at all,” Self said on the radio. “The thing about it is, it is there. It is going on. ... There will be a time where I can make a statement based on what I can comment on at that time, but at this time, I really can’t comment on anything.”
When asked about if he was worn out, Self said no.
“I’ve actually got some energy,” Self said. “I think you go through a little pity party that everybody may go through initially, but hey, this is something ... we’ve had a pretty good run, and this is something that we have to deal with and is very obvious we have to deal with.
“Is it fun dealing with it? No, but we’ll be stronger after we get through it.”
Self said the court case, more than anything, has impacted KU coaches when talking to recruits.
“The explanations that you can give in recruiting are incomplete, because you can’t comment on things that are going on,” Self said. “So I do think from a recruiting standpoint, it certainly has put us in a situation where we’ve had to ... I don’t want to say defend, but explain. And we’re limited on what we can say.”
Self said there were also times he wished he could comment on what’s been reported from the trial.
“From my perspective, I don’t think the media has been unfair to Bill Self or to the situation,” Self said. “I do think, though, because it deserves coverage, I do think there are some things that have been reported obviously that people take snippets and make a headline that maybe isn’t always consistent with what has actually been reported. That can be frustrating, but that’s also the business, and I’ve been in the business for 30-plus years, and I’ve dealt with that. That’s just the way it goes.
“Certainly, we’re big boys, and we know we have to deal with that. Can it be frustrating? Absolutely. But it also goes with the territory.”
Jesse Newell
Jesse Newell covers University of Kansas athletics for The Star.
This story was originally published October 24, 2018 at 1:07 PM.