With the past two seasons' tournaments being affected by COVID, how much praise is it that this is a natural NCAA tournament?
Bill Self: Well, no one in 20 had a chance, obviously, and last year we were probably impressed as a team other than a team in the field. We made two starts at the time of the tournament last year. So nobody completely saw us in the tournament, so we're excited. I am very proud of the children. To me, even though they're kids, they played like men of late here. And for being a seed and being the third overall seed, I think every team in America, with the exception of probably Gonzaga, would have sold out for him before the season even started. And our people lived up to the expectations people had of them. I think we had four or five preseasons to start with in the country and they played to that level. So can't ask for more. We put ourselves in a favorable position, even though the seed doesn't make sense right now. But it's more about matchup and preparation, and if we take care of our business and do what we're capable of, we should be successful. If we don't, we won't, it's too easy.
The fact that this isn't all limited to Indianapolis, you go to the site the first weekend and then you go to Chicago for a regional, how exciting is that?
Bill Self: Well, we played a game in Fort Worth this year and it wasn't great, but it was a different field, obviously. So playing at Dickies Arena, I hear nothing but good things about it. I have two grandchildren in this area, so it's a bonus for me and for us. And then if we're lucky enough to win two, which isn't what you're looking forward to, there's no better place to be in spring than in Chicago. So it's ready to be fun if we just go play.
In both Dallas and Chicago, KU has a large contingent of alumni. Jayhawk fans travel well, whether they are dedicated. How much of that fan energy feeds the team?
Bill Self: Well I think the last NCAA tournament we actually played in, last year was COVID, no one could have come hard. And in '19 it was in Salt Lake and it felt like we didn't have a home court for whatever reason. And most of it just because of travel. And I think we'll have it in Fort Worth. And if we're lucky enough to go to Chicago because if I'm not mistaken, other than Kansas City, I think Chicago, we have as many alums from Chicago as we have any other city. And I know there's a lot more than Wichita, but Chicago actually has more, I believe. So that would be great. And these two are a seven hour drive away. It's not that you can't go anywhere in your car.
We talked a few months back and you said the identity of the team, it was in the round shape. Now that you have a regular-season title and a post-season tournament title, what has become of this team's identity?
Bill Self: Well I thought a month ago or a month and a half ago, we have to play well to win. I don't know if I consider it as strong now. I guess we can't even play anyone else. We haven't defended three games, maybe a whole year, as we did in Kansas City and the tournament. Even though the opponents had a good field goal percentage, we made a lot more than what everyone else got. So this is a big bonus. And we didn't do it very well against Take, but we did the second half, and in other games, we rebounded it pretty well. So it's these things that I saw as potential drawbacks, we're getting better. Now, we're not great yet, but hopefully the best is still to come in those areas.
From good to great, from great to special. what does it take?
Bill Self: Well, I guess everybody cares in the tournament, or you won't be in the tournament, so everybody cares. I think what we need to do is play with a free mind, play relaxed, play friendly, but don't lose any aggression. And I'm like, no matter what anyone says, I don't know if there's anyone out there who would say that if Gonzaga got out early, he didn't have a good year. We've had a good year. It's a great year whenever you win leagues and win tournaments, but we also know that the season up to this point is not the same as the season from this point forward. So to make it special, we have to kick it up another notch. And then it can become special. We've had some special seasons here and we've had some good seasons and we've had some good years, but they weren't special because we didn't even play in the tournament.
What sets this year's team apart?
Bill Self: I don't know that we are now. Everyone can speak of a good game before actually playing it. It's like a recruiting class. Well, this class is great, everyone says... I've never heard anyone sign a recruiter class saying, "You know, it sucks." I mean, everyone pumps up their guys for how cool they are, but you didn't see them in your position. So let's wait and see if our team is different from others. In some ways, I hope we are no different from others. But the great thing is, it's a reward for everyone who busted their butt for the past year. And for Jalen to announce and come back and declare to Ochai, and it's a reward for the improvements CB has made and how everyone has progressed. You don't want to look back and say, "What if?"
And for newcomers, their first experience as they transfer through their first year in the program for everyone to come together and be rewarded by the opportunity, how rewarding is it?
Bill Self: I think the players who were new to our program last year never saw what Kansas basketball was like. You have a COVID year. No fans, or basically very few fans. You had the NCAA tournament. I'm not going to make excuses, but it would have been a tough game for USC to beat if you had known that three players and two starters had COVID and did the work themselves, and David played on a broken leg. Those are tough things. And so, players who were new last year never saw what it really felt like. And even this year's players don't know what it really feels like until they feel the postseason. Our fans have done a great job. The players did a great job. We won, played at a high level, but the post season sets it apart. So it will be exciting for all those people.