KU’s Bill Self says he was ‘really surprised’ by timing of Jerome Tang’s firing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Self expressed surprise at Tang’s firing with six games remaining.
- Self cited Tang’s $18M+ buyout and deferred legal judgments to agents/attorneys.
- KU and K‑State will meet March 7; Self hopes fairness prevails with Tang’s contract.
For Bill Self and others who follow Big 12 basketball, a rather quiet Sunday night was interrupted with the news of Jerome Tang’s firing as men’s basketball coach at Kansas State.
“It really surprised me with the timing and everything,” 23rd-year KU coach Self said of fourth-year K-State coach Tang being fired with six games remaining in the regular season.
“I’ve actually thought about this a lot and I have a hard time coming up with a conclusion because we don’t really know everything that’s going on,” Self said, “and we try to make determinations from the cheap seats based on what other people say or other people write.
“I’ll be honest, I like Jerome,” Self added. “I hate to see when any coaches get let go, but I also know that it’s big money and it’s big business and people make decisions based on what is in the best interest of their employer, and the employer is Kansas State University.”
Self stressed he has no inside information on Wildcats AD Gene Taylor attempting to fire Tang with cause. Tang has a buyout of more than $18 million per the terms of his contract. It remains to be seen if Tang’s public criticism of the players of late that spurred a lot of talk nationally would violate the terms of the contract.
“Without saying too much, because I shouldn’t have an opinion because I don’t know enough to have an opinion, that’s why you have agents,” Self said. “That’s why you have attorneys that look over contracts and that’s why you have attorneys from institutions that look over contracts and you deal with the wording in the contracts. Bottom line.”
Self noted that “if KU wanted to get rid of me today, that’s their decision, and that would be their decision, but all things would refer to the terms of the contract. And if I wanted to get rid of KU, which I don’t, all things would refer to the terms of the contract. I’m sure that’s exactly what they’re hashing out now, is how that contract is written, And from outside looking in, I certainly hope fairness prevails.”
KU will play Kansas State on the Jayhawks’ Senior Day. Tipoff is 1 p.m. March 7 in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks (19-6, 9-3), who are ranked No. 8 in the AP poll this week, will take on Oklahoma State (16-9, 4-8) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
