Bill Self compares Kansas' 2008 and 2022 titles, talks players' pro options during Hawk Talk

LAWRENCE — During a celebratory, national championship edition of Hawk Talk on Thursday, Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self’s reflection on the Jayhawks’ latest title led to a comparison to the one they won in 2008.

Self said that when they won that championship, a bit more than a decade ago, he felt as if they celebrated too much. By the time August came around that year, he didn’t think they’d capitalized on their immediate success like they should have. This year, Self said, they’ve tried to do a better job of that.

Self also said that this year’s celebration, and the euphoria that comes with winning a title, has exceeded that of 2008. He mused that it might be because back in 2008 he felt as if they always knew that could happen. This past season, after the regular season loss against Kentucky, he didn’t think a championship like that was in store.

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But, clearly, that title ended up coming the Jayhawks’ way after their victory in New Orleans against North Carolina in April. While it’s all been a little unexpected for Self, he did think his team started to build momentum in the Big 12 Conference tournament — which Kansas won. Then the Jayhawks received what Self considered a favorable draw in the NCAA Tournament, and took care of business.

“It’s been a fun ride, and I know our guys have enjoyed it and the guys have benefited individually off of it as well — which is always a goal, that you want everybody to benefit and, if you win enough, the pie is big enough for everybody,” Self said. “And everybody’s benefited in their own personal way, in different ways. And so, it’s been great.”

Self reiterated that there’s a lot of work left to do, in order to capitalize off of the success they’ve been able to enjoy. Before he got back to that work, though, he also discussed a number of different topics related to Kansas’ national championship team.

Where this Kansas basketball team ranks among the best

Self said this most recent Jayhawks team should be remembered as one of the best teams in program history because, while it may not have been as talented as some in the past, this one delivered on a national title. There have been a number of high-profile squads, both before Self took over and after, but not many have enjoyed the highs the 2021-22 unit did. Self noted that the 2008 team might have had more talent, but the 2022 team benefited from intangibles at a different level.

“It’s more than chemistry. It’s not having to deal with anything that didn’t have anything to do with winning or losing basketball games,” Self said. “It’s never having a situation where you felt like that one guy didn’t have both feet in. It’s never having to worry about if kids would compete, and when I’m talking about compete, be as into it from a strategy standpoint, a scouting report standpoint, a getting treatment standpoint, a getting rest standpoint. There was never a doubt that any of those guys weren’t going to do what they should be doing to give us the best chance to win.”

Self indicated that jealousy was never something he had to worry about this past season. He said there wasn’t one time, for the first time, that he talked with a player or the team about how an agent was trying to advise them on what they needed to do to play better or what they needed to do to impress during the NCAA Tournament. Self praised the team’s alignment.

Bill Self appreciates how people have treated his father’s memory

This past season, the Lawrence and greater Kansas Jayhawks community rallied around Self and his family after the death of his father. As that occurred, a quote that Self said his father used to say to him became attached to the team. That quote was, “Don’t worry about the mules, just load the wagon.”

Self allowed that, during the season, he didn’t notice that much that was being done and said around it all. While he’d learn about things from his family, see some T-shirts and notice the “Just load the wagon” banner inside Allen Fieldhouse, he explained that he was just so locked into the tasks at hand. But Self added as well that he knows it would have meant a lot to his dad.

Self said that what made his dad great, from a coach’s perspective, was the ability to never panic in big moments. Self’s dad may have focused incessantly on the little things, like a missed curfew, but the former forever holds true. And Self thinks he coaches that way with his players.

Bill Self updates what certain athletes are considering professionally

Self also touched on what some of his athletes, specifically Remy Martin, David McCormack, Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, Jalen Wilson, Mitch Lightfoot and Jalen Coleman-Lands, are potentially looking at when it comes to their professional careers.

With Martin, whom Self described as providing Kansas the spark to take this season to a special place, there is the aim to play professionally somewhere. While Self said that Martin still isn’t quite at 100% health-wise, that is the path Martin is pursuing. Self outlined how he thought a good option for Martin could be playing in the Philippines, because of the connection Martin has there and the potential that Martin could be the highest-paid player in the league there.

With McCormack, whose performances in the Final Four Self praised, Self said he could end up going overseas to play. But, Self also said that McCormack has a legitimate chance to be a two-way player in the NBA. Either choice would allow McCormack to make a quality living.

Self said Agbaji has played himself into likely being a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, and that Braun might now be a first-round selection, too. The team is still waiting for a final decision from Wilson, who has the option to return to college and whom Self thinks has helped himself tremendously with his performances during the draft process so far. Self isn’t quite sure what’s next for Coleman-Lands at this point, and didn’t rule out the G League for Lightfoot while also alluding to overseas options.

“We should wish them to do what’s best for their life,” Self said. “And I think they’ll all make good decisions.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.