KU’s Bill Self discusses challenge of navigating NCAA portal this offseason
Bill Self actually feels more like a general manager than a coach a month after the conclusion of the 2022-23 college basketball season.
Self, Kansas’ 20th-year head coach/talent evaluator, says he still needs to fill “three or four” 2023-24 KU roster spots exclusively from the 1,000 or so players who have entered their names in the NCAA transfer portal.
“(The portal) better affect us positively for the upcoming season because our success next year will be based on what we do in the next month from a recruitment standpoint,” Self said Monday at a news conference held prior to his Dillon Lecture Series speech at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College.
“We need to sign at least three, possibly four, but at least three that are difference maker-type players for us. The only way we are going to get those guys is through the portal. The portal is more important to us this year than last year because last year we didn’t have anybody leave. This year we’ve had some defections and I think for good reason: … They can have a chance to maybe better their opportunities which also gives us a chance to improve our status with those same opportunities. I’m excited about it.”
The Jayhawks since the end of the 2022-23 season have lost Zach Clemence, Bobby Pettiford, MJ Rice, Joseph Yesufu and Cam Martin to the transfer portal. Kyle Cuffe has not yet announced whether he will enter the portal or return for a third season in Lawrence.
Meanwhile, KU is being mentioned as possible landing spot for portal players Hunter Dickinson (Michigan), Harrison Ingram (Stanford), Arterio Morris (Texas), Primo Spears (Georgetown), Nick Timberlake (Towson), Jaylon Tyson (Texas Tech) and perhaps others that have not had their names surface publicly.
“In the portal, it’s a little different. It’s more refined because you know at this time what next year’s team’s needs are,” Self said. “I’d say things I just mentioned (athleticism, toughness, shooting ability), plus we lost three 6-foot-7 wings. So we need length. We need standing height. Two of the three (roster additions) need to be shooters. We need an explosive guy that can get it off the bounce and create for others.
“We are looking at those specific things in the portal that maybe you don’t look at quite specifically a year out when you are looking at just getting the best player. Now we want the best player that fits this specific need.”
Self will start molding next year’s team after it assembles on campus for summer school in early June.
“I don’t have a clue about next year’s team because we’ve only got four guys on it right now — four or five. We’re up to eight now counting the four we signed,” Self said.
As it stands now, returnees KJ Adams, Dajuan Harris, Ernest Udeh, Zuby Ejiofor and Cuffe are joined by incoming freshmen Elmarko Jackson, Chris Johnson, Marcus Adams and Jamari McDowell.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do before I’ll even think about how we get our team aligned. We don’t even know our personnel yet,” Self saId in Hutch.
Self praises K-State
Self was asked what he thought of K-State’s success in hoops this past season.
“I’ve got no jealousy toward K-State. None. I’ve got no jealously toward Missouri. I’ve got no jealousy toward Wichita State. You know why, because when they are good it makes us be better. It raises the bar for everybody,” Self said. “I actually enjoyed when Huggs (Bob Huggins) was there (at K-State), when Frank (Martin) had all that success. Frank went to the Elite Eight, maybe twice. I actually liked that. It didn’t bother me at all that they’re successful.”
“They (Wildcats) had a good year this year, no question, and they had a really good run in the NCAA Tournament. Jerome (Tang) is doing a fantastic job and of course they had two players (Keyontae Johnson, Markquis Nowell) perform at a ridiculously high level for the most part all year long. And (they) had the most fun player in America to watch play (in Nowell). They had it going. That doesn’t affect Kansas. All that does is add to a league that is already great. Iron sharpens iron.”
Of the Big 12 this past year, Self noted: “We had the best league in America. K-State was a big part of it. Kansas (league champ) was a big part of it. … Texas, West Virginia, Iowa State, Baylor … they all played a big role in us being successful (as a league). This isn’t a league where we are the only good team. This is a league in which there are a ton of good teams at a high, high level.”
Self a fan of Terry Nooner
Self on former KU men’s player and women’s assistant coach Terry Nooner being named Wichita State women’s hoop coach.
“I’m happy for Terry. He has a lot of things going for him,” Self said. “People like him. He’s a people person. He’s been around ball and he understands it at a high level. He’ll do a great job at Wichita State. Our women’s program has improved so much and done so well over the last couple years and he’s a big reason why.”
