How Bill Self — and KU basketball players — reacted to coach’s 800th win vs. UNCW
Bill Self was halfway through the postgame handshake line Tuesday night when Allen Fieldhouse’s public address announcer informed 15,300 exiting fans that the home coach had just recorded his 800th victory in 32 seasons combined at Kansas, Illinois, Tulsa and Oral Roberts.
Self, KU’s 61-year-old, 22nd-year head coach, received a hearty ovation as an 800-victory graphic flashed on the center scoreboard following the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks’ 84-66 win over UNCW in KU’s sold-out tradition rich building.
“I don’t know if you guys know this … I don’t think of that stuff very often,” Self, who has compiled an overall record of 800-248, said of personal milestones such as last week’s passing of Phog Allen to become the No. 1 leader in all-time victories at the blue-blood school.
“Probably being embarrassed,” Self responded, asked what he’d recall most about No. 800. “Because I couldn’t remember No. 1 was against Sam Houston State (when asked by a media member if he could recall his first-ever victory at Oral Roberts back in 1993).”
Self may have downplayed win No. 800 in his postgame session with the media. At least two of his players were enthused about their coach’s accomplishment, however.
“Coach Self is just a winner. That’s all. He’s a winner,” said senior point guard Dajuan Harris, who scored 17 points and dished six assists against one turnover with two steals in 30 minutes. Harris went 2-of-6 from 3 on a night KU went just 6- of-25 beyond the arc. He was 3-of-5 from the line, his teammates 7-of-11.
“It’s fun playing for him. He makes it look easy for me, so he’s just a winner,” Harris added of Self.
Senior forward Hunter Dickinson, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds in 30 minutes said: “I’m glad my parents had me a little bit later so I could be able to play for him (in) No. 800. Hopefully he gets to 900 and 1,000. He is one of the best and deserves it all, but we’re just trying to get more milestones, trying to get that third national championship for him. That’s the biggest thing we want now for him.”
Dickinson led KU’s bigs on a night freshman Flory Bidunga played just eight minutes total. Bidunga had six points on 3-of-3 shooting with two boards. He suffered an ankle injury midway through the first half that sent him to the locker room until midway through the second half. Self said he could have returned if needed.
Self added that Bidunga, after receiving treatment over a couple days off, should be able to practice on Friday.
Forward KJ Adams had three points, five assists and five rebounds in 29 minutes, while forward Zach Clemence had a basket in three minutes.
“Other than defensive rebounding, that’s the best we’ve played defensively,” said Self. KU (5-0) outrebounded UNCW (3-1) 38-32 — 19-11 the second half.
“Our ball-screen defense was on point. We just didn’t rebound the ball late in the first half. They got to the line (18-of-24 to KU’s 10-of-16). I thought the second half we obviously defensive rebounded. I felt we probably played a little better the second half than the score actually indicated. Our energy was good. We can play better but tonight was a good step in the right direction,” Self added.
As far as long-distance shooting from the guards … Harris was 2-of-6 from 3 and David Coit 2-of-4. AJ Storr was 1-for-5 and Rylan Griffen 1-for-4.
“I’m not going to worry about that. What were we, 6-of-25?” Self said of 3s. “You go 9-of-25 and it’s a 27-point game. They were good looks. I bet of the 25, maybe one or two you wouldn’t want. ... We’ll make them.”
KU will next meet Duke at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Las Vegas.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 11:15 PM.
