🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Just listened to Consonants on the Dan Patrick show and he, again mentioned coaching USA Basketball in the 2016 Olympics. Assuming he retires after the games, USA Basketball should name Bill Self the next coach.

Is this summer an audition?

Call it a dream, but this would be huge for KANSAS BASKETBALL! And I think this is the best way for Coach Self to:

1. Grow as a coach. Consonants has evolved as a coach and has learned a LOT from coaching the best players in the world.

2. Get more recruits. Consonants has gotten more and more talent recently. Setting aside Squidlike practices or Petro influence...it appears kids would like to be coached by the guy who coaches Lebron, Harden, Curry & Westbrook in the summer.

So it's decided, let's make it happen!

@VailHawk

I don't think Self has enough respect among NBA players to be the next coach of the senior men's team. I think he has enough respect among the collegiate world to be the coach of the University Games or the U18's, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that he's on the short list of candidates for the senior team.

@justanotherfan

I respectfully disagree. Coach Self is universally respected and I would like to think, although I have no evidence to back up my claim, that if he wanted to coach in the NBA, he would be coaching in the NBA. I believe that Coach "Pop," one of the better and more respected coaches in the NBA, certainly would back Coach Self for the job.

The NBA has a very long season and coaches at that level have no interest (or time) in tying up their summers with another big responsibility, so it is very likely that the next coach of the senior team will come from the college ranks.

@justanotherfan Curious as to why you would not think that Self has enough respect from NBA guys? I guess my initial reaction would be that he is in a small group that kind of commands immediate respect from all in the hoops world -- guys like Self, K, Roy, Pitino, Donovan, Izzo, and Boeheim. The next level down, I think, would present challenges in that regard. Guys like Ryan, Few, Matta, etc.

I also think a guy like Hoiberg, who was more of an NBA guy to begin with, would be a natural fit. And actually, he's the guy I think is most likely to get it.

I agree that the next national team head coach will almost certainly be a collegiate coach. I just don't think it will be Self.

@HighEliteMajor

I think Self's lack of success with big time recruits means that, although the coaches at the pro level respect him, I am not sure the players feel the same way. Bill Self is very much a "system" guy and the players in the pros understand that a "system" is not as effective if it doesn't fit the personnel you have. His coaching style makes him a poor fit to coach a roster of pro players.

@JayHawkFanToo

I think Pop likes and respects Self as a college coach, but I also think that he may believe that others - particularly a coach like Hoiberg who works to develop and exploit matchup advantages - would be a better fit to work with pro players. I think that would be a consistent view among a lot of pro evaluators - Self is a good college coach, but may not be a good fit at the pro level. Notice also that the Self to the NBA chatter has significantly slowed over the last 3 years or so.

My other reason for believing that Self isn't under serious consideration is that he isn't currently in the pipeline.

The U19 coaches were Tony Bennett (Virginia), Shaka Smart (now Texas) and Billy Donovan (head coach of the U19, Florida).

The U18 coaches were Donovan (head coach), assisted by Ed Cooley (Providence) and Sean Miller (Arizona).

If Self were under consideration, I think they would have brought him into the pipeline by now. The fact that they have not, even as an assistant, says to me that he isn't on the radar for that job.

@VailHawk Stellar idea! Man, that would be out of this world!

@justanotherfan Or maybe Coach Self has just declined to do that thus far into his career? Thats certainly as possible as anything else. The fact that he is coaching for the U S now should hint at better things to come, not a plateau or drop off. Plus, Coach Pop has his back, those guys are tight from what I hear, and Coach Pop is one of the best in the League. You cant ask for a better connection than that.

@HighEliteMajor

HEM, Hoiberg has a heart condition that prompted him to move from the NBA to college; I believe he indicated in the past that his health would not allow him to coach in the NBA.

@justanotherfan

See my post to HEM. Hoiberg's health would not allow him to take on the additional workload and stress of a National team; he really is not an option and probably will be a lifer at ISU.

I'd say that Self's having been chosen to take his Jayhawks to Korea this summer to represent our nation in the World University Games is indicative of his being looked at as a future candidate for USA coaching...at some level. Whether he would choose to become involved in such an opportunity remains to be seen. One thing seems certain to me: unless he brings back some eligible pro players, or is able to lure at least a pair of former Under 18 stars to his program, the Jayhawks are in for a thrashing in the World U. Games. No Alexander, no Oubre, and a core of mending walking wounded. Most probably, no systematic inclusion of Fools' Gold....

Speaking of the World University Games, I wonder if it is permitted for Self to bring in players from other programs to compete alongside our Jayhawks. And if so, will he go that route? Perhaps a big man who does not declare for the June draft?

@JayHawkFanToo

Completely agree on Hoiberg. I doubt he ever pursues the NBA. However, if he were asked to coach the national team, he may consider it (I don't know enough about the current state of his health), and his style of coaching is a better fit than Self's style.

@Lulufulu

The University Games team was selected based on colleges that expressed interest in competing. KU was selected over the other applicants. Because this isn't a team selected from around the country, I think it is a different sort of thing. Perhaps USA Basketball will use this to evaluate Coach Self for a future role, but I think the guys I listed yesterday have the inside track, particularly Donovan.

I agree that he and Pop are close, but Jerry Colangelo is currently on the Board of Directors, along with Chauncey Billups and others. They will select a new board after next year's Olympics, but the current board make up doesn't give Self the inside track.