OSU prepared to offer Self $4 mil per

[Dish]

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8833789

If this is true, these are mind blowing numbers. As much as Self might love the KU job, how someone can turn down this kind of cash would be beyond me. I knew Self was underpaid at KU, but I didn't realize he made less than Mangino.

For those who don't want to read the entire article, here's the meat of it:

"According to numerous media reports, Oklahoma State is prepared to offer Self, win or lose tonight, a salary of $4 million a year, plus a $6 million signing bonus. That would not only nearly triple the $1.375 million he makes at Kansas but would fly past the $3.5 million paid the current highest-paid coach, Florida's Billy Donovan."

If this were to happen, the coaching carousel would be in total chaos. This is WAY jumping the gun, but if Self took the Ok. St. gig, I'm calling Gillespie to Kansas. I honestly think there'd be huge moves across the board if this goes down.

[mwbauer7]

Crean to Kans.... wait...

[NavinRJohnson]

As I said the other day, this would explain the crickets chirping in Pullman and Cincinatti. Outside of each guy saying they would not be pursuing the Indiana job, neither Tony Bennet, nor Sean Miller have said anything. Zilch, zip, nada. I have heard a lot of people say that Miller and Bennet are not candidates for the Mu job because they are staying at their respective schools, but neither of them has actually said as much. Given the money OSU is prepared to throw around as everyone expected, both are obviously keeping their options open.

If these numbers are true, Self has to take the job, doesn't he?? He can wink at the camera and say its not about the money - its about going home, etc., but his non-denial denial the other day makes me think its better than 50/50 that the Kansas job will be open soon.

[MULS1999]

This would be bad for us in my opinion.  If Kansas opens up, they could very likely target one of our preferred candidates (or candidate as the case may presently be).  I can't see Gillispie going to KU, but if he did, who on Earth would Kentucky target?  Yikes.  

We need to get out in front of this mess if at all possible.

[Wareagle]

"4 million a year is 4 million a year." - Tom Crean in three days.

[Pakuni]

This would be bad for us in my opinion.  If Kansas opens up, they could very likely target one of our preferred candidates (or candidate as the case may presently be).  I can't see Gillispie going to KU, but if he did, who on Earth would Kentucky target?  Yikes.  

We need to get out in front of this mess if at all possible.

I'm not too worried. I don't see Marquette and Kansas working off the same cheat sheet of coaching candidates.

[MUinCO]

This would be bad for us in my opinion.  If Kansas opens up, they could very likely target one of our preferred candidates (or candidate as the case may presently be).  I can't see Gillispie going to KU, but if he did, who on Earth would Kentucky target?  Yikes.  

We need to get out in front of this mess if at all possible.

Exactly, MU would go from being the best open job on the market to second tier big time.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Well, something tells me that that impending carousel won't matter much for Marquette by about this time tomorrow.

[groove]

Well, something tells me that that impending carousel won't matter much for Marquette by about this time tomorrow.

I agree. I'm thinking a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

[Dish]

As I said the other day, this would explain the crickets chirping in Pullman and Cincinatti. Outside of each guy saying they would not be pursuing the Indiana job, neither Tony Bennet, nor Sean Miller have said anything. Zilch, zip, nada. I have heard a lot of people say that Miller and Bennet are not candidates for the Mu job because they are staying at their respective schools, but neither of them has actually said as much. Given the money OSU is prepared to throw around as everyone expected, both are obviously keeping their options open.

If these numbers are true, Self has to take the job, doesn't he?? He can wink at the camera and say its not about the money - its about going home, etc., but his non-denial denial the other day makes me think its better than 50/50 that the Kansas job will be open soon.

Agreed, he has to take it. If a rival company came to me and offered me three times the amount I'm making now, some huge signing bonus, and it happened to be in a town I spent a great portion of my life in, watch how fast I'd move. Not that I'm in Bill Self's shoes, but how do you say no to that?

Last week on 670 The Score, Bernstein was talking about a slip that Self made at a news conference. Something to the effect of "I want more money". It's obviously something he should think, but to say it out loud, with his team deep in the tourney, says a lot. And this quote struck me too, "If you follow us closely, we've won just about as much as any coach won at Kansas," Self said. "But those two first-round losses definitely put a negative stigma to us."

[Shack]

How did Larry Brown leave Kansas?  I'm guessing he would be their top choice if he didn't burn any bridges when he left. 

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

The Shirt

Crean and Rock Chock Jayhawk

The speech

It's Kansas, It's Kansas, It's Kansas

[bma725]

How did Larry Brown leave Kansas?  I'm guessing he would be their top choice if he didn't burn any bridges when he left. 

They went on probation for recruiting violations because of him.  While the anger has toned down, there are still some that have issues.

[Marquette_TEE]

I think Self leaving really puts a damper on the MU opening.  I hope there is truth to the Bennett rumor.  If the Self thing happens, hopefully Brown goes to KU and we stay on Bennett.  Otherwise, why isn't Brown getting any mention for the MU opening?

PS. I still want Bilas to be mentioned as a possible candidate for the MU job.

[NavinRJohnson]

As I said the other day, this would explain the crickets chirping in Pullman and Cincinatti. Outside of each guy saying they would not be pursuing the Indiana job, neither Tony Bennet, nor Sean Miller have said anything. Zilch, zip, nada. I have heard a lot of people say that Miller and Bennet are not candidates for the Mu job because they are staying at their respective schools, but neither of them has actually said as much. Given the money OSU is prepared to throw around as everyone expected, both are obviously keeping their options open.

If these numbers are true, Self has to take the job, doesn't he?? He can wink at the camera and say its not about the money - its about going home, etc., but his non-denial denial the other day makes me think its better than 50/50 that the Kansas job will be open soon.

Agreed, he has to take it. If a rival company came to me and offered me three times the amount I'm making now, some huge signing bonus, and it happened to be in a town I spent a great portion of my life in, watch how fast I'd move. Not that I'm in Bill Self's shoes, but how do you say no to that?

Last week on 670 The Score, Bernstein was talking about a slip that Self made at a news conference. Something to the effect of "I want more money". It's obviously something he should think, but to say it out loud, with his team deep in the tourney, says a lot. And this quote struck me too, "If you follow us closely, we've won just about as much as any coach won at Kansas," Self said. "But those two first-round losses definitely put a negative stigma to us."

That press conference was kinda funny and makes me think it may already be a done deal. His coice of words is...interesting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3324389


I found some comments from Self's attorney interesting as well, along with the fact that he also represents Gillespie...

Campbell represents not only Self, but Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie,

http://www.810whb.com/scripts/archives/getStory.asp?article=16762

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

This would be bad for us in my opinion.  If Kansas opens up, they could very likely target one of our preferred candidates (or candidate as the case may presently be).  I can't see Gillispie going to KU, but if he did, who on Earth would Kentucky target?  Yikes.  

We need to get out in front of this mess if at all possible.

Or it could be good for us.........so long as we don't settle into a coach tomorrow or Wednesday.

If Kansas opens, you'll have names throwing themselves into the ring. It could get to the point where a coach just simply can't go back to their current school. If not, MU can step in and take the reins and make an untenable situation that much better for the exposed coach.

[NYWarrior]

Self to OSU, fine.  That wouldn't lead to a huge domino effect.

Turgeon to Kansas........A&M gets screwed,

[Shack]

Maybe Buzz would go to A&M then and save us the disaster of hiring him. 

[jce]

This would be bad for us in my opinion.  If Kansas opens up, they could very likely target one of our preferred candidates (or candidate as the case may presently be).  I can't see Gillispie going to KU, but if he did, who on Earth would Kentucky target?  Yikes.  

We need to get out in front of this mess if at all possible.

Or it could be good for us.........so long as we don't settle into a coach tomorrow or Wednesday.

If Kansas opens, you'll have names throwing themselves into the ring. It could get to the point where a coach just simply can't go back to their current school. If not, MU can step in and take the reins and make an untenable situation that much better for the exposed coach.

Or Kansas just hires Danny Manning and it's all done.

[MULS1999]

I love it when people take unscripted press questions without being professionally prepared; it's just so much more ... honest.  In my view, that clip is incredibly revealing.  He was not willing to rule out OSU or say anything stronger than "right now, I would tell them to look in another direction."

What he's saying is this:  my options are open, and if they come to talk to me after the season, I'll listen and listen carefully -- even more so if they drive down from Stillwater in a Brinks truck.  If Kansas wins, it seems that Self to his "very nice" alma mater is a real possibility.

Thanks for posting the video, MUDish!

[Dish]

I'd like to take credit, but it was Navin with the good find. Kudos to him.