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OSU Fires Sutton; Why the Bill Self Rumors are Nonsensical

In case you haven't already heard, Sean Sutton has resigned as Oklahoma State's basketball coach. You can read about it here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3323779

Of course, this immediately ramps up the "HCBS heading back to his alma mater?" rumor mill.

Here are just a couple of reasons I think these are full of BS:

* His career path. Every stop on Self's trip to Kansas has been higher in stature. To me, stature doesn't just mean reputation- it means a committment to doing whatever it takes to have a powerhouse basketball program. Kansas has one of the highest men's basketball budgets in the nation. They we're willing to spend millions on renovating the Field House to keep us as competitive as possible in recruiting (these renovations are still ongoing). I remember once reading about the Jayhawk-shaped cheese the players snack on while riding their chartered jet.

While T. Boone "ToothPick" Pickens may be able to equal KU's expenditures, it cannot simply buy the tradition and passion that exists at a place like Kansas. There's an amazing video over on Deadspin about the scene on Mass Street on Sunday night. While Okie Staters would surely enjoy another Final Four run, you just wouldn't see a scene like that.

  • He's not Roy Williams. Local boy returning home to save the program is a cute story, but HCBS isn't the sentimentalist that Roy was. Sure he's gotten over one hump in becoming a Final Four coach. But I don't think HCBS is satisfied with that at all. Look at how the man recruits: before last season, Self had what looked to be the most talented team in the country coming back. Did he take the summer off, Roy Williams- style? No. Instead, he went and got a likely lottery pick in Darrel Arthur to join the mix. Cold blooded.
  • Self's coaching personality. HCBS runs a very basic, at times repetitive offense. For it to be successful, it depends on having superior athletes than the oppponent. Again, recruiting will never be as good to Stillwater as it is to Naismith Drive.
  • Off the court reasons. The Selfs have two young children. Putting them through yet another move in what amounts to nothing more than a money grab just doesn't make sense. As zealous as many in Jayhawk Nation are, moving in-conference would inevitably be very hard on his family. The rumor right now is that Pickens would offer something like $5 million a season, more than double his current deal. However, Self is a not-so-simple win over Carolina from being a God in the state of Kansas. He could literally name his price if that happens.
...So yeah, I don't see this happening. Your thoughts?

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i really dont think he is gone...
it just isnt going to happen.

it doesnt make much sense at all for him to take a clear-cut step down just to return home, to a lesser program.

but just for fun, if he does leave who would you go after? sean miller of xavier seems like a good coach, but he just turned down indiana (albeit a much, much different situation) so who knows if he would be interested.

by rockchalk on Apr 2, 2008 12:33 AM CDT   0 recs

For what it's worth ...
my thoughts on this issue are here.

The only real question, in my mind, is this:  What is Self's price, and will OSU pay it?  He has a price, trust me.  Everyone in his profession does, and there is a dollar bill point at which all other considerations become secondary.  The question is how hight that point is.

The very same question applies to Kentucky should Self resist and Gillispie become the next target, as rumors have it.

I personally hate that Kansas has to fend off a hostile takeover bid like this after just winning a national championship, and many UK fans fear one in Lexington should Kansas successfully fend off the newly acquired subsidiary of B.P. Capital Management that is the OSU athletic department.  This is a great story, but one I would rather not have to talk about.

Unfortunately, it is the elephant in the room.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 8, 2008 11:12 AM CDT   0 recs

The Money
While I agree that everyone has a price, I'm just not sure that what's being rumored is enough to push him out the door.

I've heard that OSU is going to offer something like 4 million a year for 10 years, plus a 6 million dollar bonus.

Let's say Kansas puts an offer on the table that pays him the average of the top 5 highest paid coaches in college hoops. That puts him somewhere around the 3 million a year mark.  Over a ten year period, he would stand to make 16 million more with the Pokes. After taxes, that's ~8 million over ten years, or $800,000 a year. A nice chunk of change, no doubt. But is it enough to justify putting up with all the negatives I mentioned before? I doubt it.

Another thing to remember is that if you're making 3 million dollars a year in Lawrence, Kansas (or Stillwater, for that matter), you don't really need another $800,000. What else will Bill do with the money? Buy a lake house? When would he use it? He's got a taste for Rolexes, but how many watches would make up for the fact that some crazy oil guy now gets to tell you what to do for the rest of your career?

Another thing I want to know is this: where are KU's billionaires in all this? Why isn't Anschutz (the owner of half the MLS, including the Galaxy- yep, a KU guy is Beckham's boss) or Adams (the owner of the Tennessee Titans) stepping in to put this Swift Boating a-hole in his place?

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Apr 8, 2008 9:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

good stuff.
i can just hope that bill self has the same sense you just displayed.

honestly, though, i havent really thought about it yet...

i still cant believe we won the championship.

by rockchalk on Apr 8, 2008 10:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

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