Bill Self supposedly considered leaving Kansas for Oklahoma State during the offseason. However, the timing of this bombshell college basketball report is rather suspicious.
Why now?
Self played college basketball at Oklahoma State in the early 80s so there is a tie to the university. His alleged interest in a return to Stillwater makes just enough sense that it could happen but the idea of a 62-year-old leaving a blue blood program for a significantly worse job does not make a lot of sense.
According to Berry Tramel of the Tulsa World, “OSU came close to getting Bill Self in 2024 coaching search.” But what does that mean exactly?
Multiple Cowboy sources said OSU took a swing at Self, and Cowboy decision-makers grew increasingly confident that Self was impressed with the organization of the plan his alma mater had produced and was intrigued at the package, complete with competitive salary and budget to pay players in this new professional age of college basketball.
— Berry Tramel
One Oklahoma State insider told Tramel that it was “by far the closest it’s ever come to happening.” Self spent a few days at Karsten Creek in Stillwater last spring and “seriously considered the offer.”
UPDATE: Bill Self responded to the report. He says it is false.
Bill Self on the report that he considered leaving for Oklahoma State:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 21, 2025
"I did talk to them… Not necessarily about hiring me, but about what needs to happen for them to compete in this league… But the part that I stayed holed up in Stillwater… that was totally inaccurate" pic.twitter.com/iUE8f7U2rE
Tramel could not get in touch with Bill Self for a comment. Athletic director Chad Weiberg declined to comment on his recruitment of the two-time national champion.
I am not saying that this earth-shattering college basketball report is bogus. Tramel is a 46-year Oklahoma journalism veteran. He wouldn’t just make this up. It seems to be well-sourced.
But with that being said, the timing is interesting.
First and foremost, Kansas is set to host Oklahoma State on Saturday. Self is going to be asked about this report at first opportunity. There will be follow-up questions to his presumably mundane response.
In addition, the Jayhawks are coming off of its worst losses since Roy Williams left for UNC in 2003. They got stomped by BYU after losing to Utah. Fans are actually calling for the university to move on from Bill Self (mostly through anonymous burner accounts on social media) even though he is one of the best coaches of all-time.
And then this report suddenly drops out of absolutely nowhere that he considered leaving Kansas for Oklahoma State. Consider me suspicious. Why now?