San Diego — First asked about it in passing a couple of weeks ago, before the Jayhawks’ season had even come close to ending, questions about Kansas basketball coach Bill Self’s future were an even hotter topic after his team’s 67-65 season-ending loss to St. John’s on Sunday afternoon.
Self, who just wrapped up Year 23 at KU, stopped short of giving any definitive answers about what comes next for him. But he did acknowledge that he’ll talk about his future plans with those closest tohim, address what he might want to do “and see where that leads.”
“I haven’t decided,” Self said after his team’s gut-wrenching loss. “I’ll get back and visit with family. I’ve had, obviously, some issues off the court health-wise. And that will be discussed.”
He added: "I feel as good as I've felt in a long time. I'm not making any statements whatsoever. ... I try to focus on this season and trying to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So, I'll go back now and break it down and see where that leads."
Self, who has always said he looks at his career in 5-year segments, acknowledged on Sunday that it’s probably more like 2-year segments nowdays.
He turned 63 in late-December and has said for years that he didn’t see himself coaching into his 70s. That said, the closer he gets to 70, and the more he continues to enjoy what he does and want to do it, the more one might wonder if he does have a bunch more years left.
For now, we’ll await the result of whatever discussions Self has with family, friends, his coaching staff and KU administration to see where things might be headed.
During his postgame meeting with the media, Self was asked three different times about his future, with the final question being tied to how losing at the buzzer in his final game might be viewed as a terrible way to go out.
The longtime KU coach barely blinked at that question, instead returning to what he had said earlier about his immediate plans.
“My career ain't going to be based on one game,” he said. “I said I was going to get back and evaluate my health situation.”
There are a bunch of factors that could play into Self’s decision — if he does, in fact, have one to make — with his health, the state of the game and recruiting, NIL and the transfer portal and more likely playing a role in his thinking.
“I haven't really gone through much on the court,” Self conceded. “I've gone through some stuff off the court. So, I'll get back and get with family and visit and see what's going on... But I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I'm feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I'll get back home and it will all be discussed.”
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