@JRyman
I don't see Self being fired from KU. We've had a lot worse coaches that we would never fire. I'm not sure we've had many (if any) better coaches. I guess we could argue Brown was better... maybe because he was smart enough to leave quickly.
There are two kinds of criticism... construction and destructive.
How people take criticism is another thing. Some just want to leave. Slide everything under the rug. Never face the challenge in hopes to better themselves. Others stick around but live in denial. Another form of shoving it under the rug. Running like the ones who leave, but just do it internally. And then there are those who take on criticisms and try to defeat them with a fight. Challenge those who criticize and challenge their points in hopes of "winning the argument." Then, last, there are those who meet the criticisms. Take the time to make sure they understand what they are. Then try to see if there is some validity to them by keeping an open mind and reduced ego. Then try to learn from criticisms and view them as an opportunity to grow. Then take a new path to resolve issues brought from those criticisms.
The people who become the best at what they do fit in that last category. No one is perfect and never will be. Life is full of challenges, and if the challenges stop, so does the growth.
It is tough to compete and win in certain areas... like college basketball in March. Excluding the NIT, we only pick one winner. So the other 400 +- schools fail. No matter how much effort and skill is involved, luck plays a part of that. Anyone can get hot and anyone can get cold. But over a long span of time, we do see tendencies... patterns start to appear. A few programs seem to shine more than others.
Is it all about the coach? Might other factors be involved? Administration? School history and reputation? Location? Media? Perceptions? Strategy? Conference?
I think we can make this as complicated as we want.
Seriously... can anyone see us firing Self while he owns a historic conference championship streak? Seems absurd. But there could be reasons for dismissal... like allegations arise that has the potential to tarnish the reputation of the school. Things like that...
So if Self doesn't get fired... might he leave by taking a job somewhere else? Sure he could. Will he? I certainly have my doubts for the immediate future.
Can we become proficient in March with Self? Sure we can. But it does seem like changes will have to happen. People aren't challenging Self's abilities in March just over this past lemon performance. This has been coming. We have underachieved most of the time in March under Self... most fans will admit that. It isn't just our fans having unrealistic expectations... we have fallen to some crummy lower seeds many times now. Stanford was not a quality opponent. The media fluffed them up but come on...
So if change needs to happen, will Self be willing to change? And if so, what needs to change? It is easy for us to quarterback from the sidelines. None of us can say with complete certainty we have answers. But many of us have been in competitive basketball for many decades and we see signs that seem to tell us plenty.
For me... it really isn't 100% about winning or losing. What does count for 100% with me is bringing our best shot to every game in March. Coming prepared, being motivated, hustle hustle hustle, stay focused. I know nerves get in the way. I can understand when teams sometimes come out stiff. But basketball is what they do, and they've been playing for big crowds for a long time before March. There is no excuse to play stiff all game. There is no excuse for not stepping up to the challenge when opposition charges ahead. There is no possible good explanation for not perspiring an entire game. These is no good excuse for not diving for basketballs.
It is obvious this team had issues this year, and it started (and maybe ended) with Tharpe. The sex photo was final proof that guy isn't KU material. Let him go. He should have known better and we can blame other people for not having his attention any better than that. Tharpe didn't have enough personal pride and respect for our program because if he did, he wouldn't have done that. More than anything, he let his team down. That is what leaders do? And he didn't just get into that situation over night. He was probably letting that lifestyle rule his consciousness throughout the basketball season. How could that happen without anyone seeing it and intervening? Are there other players on this team with that mindset? Nothing wrong with liking the ladies... but come on... he made a gigantic mistake.
Self should take responsibility for that. I would if I was coach. He hasn't taken that on because this isn't his team. There is a chain of command, and it starts at the top. If he isn't held accountable, what example does that set for his players? These years Self has been at KU play a big part of his coaching legacy. He can't sweep stuff like this under his rug.
He shouldn't wait for people to finally figure it out and realize accountability starts at the top. He should be proactive and mention he is accountable and responsible for keeping these kids directed positively. No one is expecting these boys to become altar boys... but we do expect them to maintain themselves in public arenas, like the internet. And also to focus most of their direction on their education and basketball. If that is too much trouble, I'm sure we can scholarship other players who maintain a little more discipline.
I just feel like Self has become too complacent. He's become too mellow. He's not hungry enough for the big prize. Winning one title has spoiled him. All media talks about him being a shoe in as a hall of famer. I think it may have gotten to him and he is having a hard time staying focused on the big prize. Can't expect his players to have more focus than him, and what was crystal clear to everyone this year is the lack of focus this team had.
The only real game we had focus and purpose was that Texas home game. Everything else was an exercise... just going through the motions.
I can point to many problem areas from this past season; lack of PG leadership, lack of team focus, lack of motivation, lack of effort, lack of a chip... it all eventually must point to the top. Under the right coaching and leadership, these areas will not become a problem.
It also feels like Self is distant from his players. Seems he is away too much recruiting or being on TV... something... but he didn't seem close enough to his players. It is obvious, now, he wasn't close enough with Tharpe, our team captain.
So I have issues in some areas... but I want them to be taken as construction criticism. I want Self to remain at Kansas... I just want to see more out of him, just like I want to see more out of his players.
Let's win it all next year... or let's lose after giving it our complete all! But enough with these half efforts and looking like deer in the headlights and then not changing to meet the challenge. That was the really horrible part about the Stanford game. They didn't do anything so great to beat us, but after the game started showing a definite negative trend against us, we didn't execute a different strategy.