KU’s Self addresses image of basketball program in ESPN College GameDay interview
Kansas coach Bill Self addressed recent negative headlines surrounding his basketball team Saturday, admitting the athletic department’s reputation has been hurt in recent years by off-court events.
Self spoke about the topic during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast Saturday morning. In a one-on-one interview with ESPN’s Rece Davis midcourt at Allen Fieldhouse, Self was asked to evaluate his program’s image.
“I think the image of the program has taken a hit in recent memory, without question,” Self said. “I think that’s a fair question to ask.”
Self said he has worked to shield his players from some of the controversy in the past few years.
“The staff — myself — is implicated in the NCAA allegations that are potential infractions with what transpired through individuals that worked through Adidas,” Self said. “We know that. I know the truth on that, and I hope the truth prevails, but everybody is entitled to an opinion about that, because there is evidence linking us into it, without question, through text messages or whatnot.
“I know that. I own that. So our time will come. Not one player on our roster is involved directly with that, including Silvio De Sousa.”
Self went on to address Snoop Dogg’s concert performance in October’s Late Night in the Phog that included pole dancers and Snoop Dogg using money guns to aim fake cash in the direction of KU’s players and coaches.
“The most recent thing that brought attention was Snoop Dogg here. I’m personally a fan,” Self said of the rapper. “But the things that transpired during his show that many — including me — perceived to be not appropriate for a family event, I don’t believe it was Snoop Dogg … I don’t believe it was his fault. I don’t believe it was his responsibility.
“I think it was something that was arranged by our administration that thought (that) would be handled maybe a little differently and it wasn’t. Our players didn’t have one thing to do with that.”
On Tuesday, KU’s players were at the center of controversy after Kansas State’s DaJuan Gordon stole the ball in the final seconds of a game in Lawrence. De Sousa emphatically blocked Gordon’s shot, towering over Gordon before both benches cleared during a melee that spilled into the Americans with Disabilities Act seating section at Allen Fieldhouse.
Earlier this week, De Sousa received a 12-game suspension from the Big 12 for his actions during the fracas. Teammate David McCormack was suspended for two games by the conference. A pair of K-State players also were penalized for their roles.
De Sousa remains suspended indefinitely by Self as well for his role in the melee, and the coach was asked Saturday whether that indefinite suspension could last beyond the 12-game suspension handed down by the Big 12.
“I don’t know,” Self said. “I spoke with my father yesterday, and he said, ‘Well son, usually when I’ve had crisis situations like this through my place of employment, usually you may see it a little differently two or three weeks from now than the way you see it today.’
“I’m going to be patient and see how things transpire and see how people react to what’s happened.”
Self supported De Sousa in the wake of the brawl Friday — “He is ours. I am proud that he is,” the coach said then — and continued to stand behind his players during Saturday’s ESPN interview when talking about the overall impression of his program.
“Our players had something to do with this (fight) the other day. That’s a negative cloud,” Self said. “I, my staff, hold the responsibility of the cloud. But it’s certainly not players. Nobody’s got better people in their program than we do.”
