Bill Self Weekly Press Conference

March 7, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Bill Self Press Conference Quotes

March 7, 2011

Coach Self Press Conference Video Part 1 | Part 2 | Mc. Morris | Morningstar

Kansas Head Coach Bill Self

On junior Marcus Morris being named 2011 Big 12 Player of the Year:

“I think that he deserves it. You can make a case for other players in our league that have had really good seasons, but his (Marcus’) consistency over the season definitely puts him in a position where he deserved the award.”

On Morris’ development as a player:

“Freshman year he played well but he was still a complimentary guy. Last year (2009-10), you can make a strong case that he was our most consistent performer all-season long. Even though he may not have been our leading scorer or best performer, you knew what you were getting with him night in and night out.”

On what his team needs to accomplish in the Big 12 Tournament heading into the NCAA’s:

“Anytime you play you might as well play to win. We are playing in Kansas City against rivals that would like nothing more than to beat us to enhance their situation. Our goal is to go win the tournament. The biggest thing for us going into the NCAA Tournament is that we would like to get a little bit better, play against quality competition and certainly have to grind out some games. I think that would be the best thing for us.”

On if the team would like to avenge their only two losses to Kansas State and Texas in the Big 12 Tournament:

“I don’t think there is any question that they would but Nebraska and Oklahoma State would like another shot at Kansas, too, so that is how we have to look at it because we cannot get ahead of ourselves.”

On sophomore Elijah Johnson’s performance against Missouri:

“He was real good defensively. He has become our best on-ball defender at least the last couple of weeks. He is getting confidence as he plays and in a game where we have 24-turnovers and he has zero that is pretty good. I am really pleased with him and proud of him.

On what he expects from freshman Josh Selby in the Big 12 Tournament and beyond:

“He has to see the ball go in the basket and he has to be able to go make some plays. He has practiced well so I am just looking at it like he just needs to continue to grind, have a good attitude and stay positive and the ball will go down. He could still be a guy for us this year that comes out and gets 15 or 18 points when we are really struggling. He is potentially still that guy; he just needs to have a bit more confidence moving forward.”

On the health of Selby’s foot:

“He is wearing a brace on his foot that wraps all the way around it which is totally uncomfortable for him because he can’t cut or move like he wants to. With that being said, other people have played with it so it is just one of those things that you have to adjust to play with it.”

On the health of senior Tyrel Reed’s foot:

“Tyrel practices the day before games because he needs surgery as soon as the season is over on his foot. He basically has a bad heel, where there is a piece of bone in that area that is giving him some problems. It is minor injury and is probably equivalent to having an ankle sprain, so he may shoot two days before a game but he is not going to be allowed to do much more than that.

On whether Reed and Selby’s injuries could be a concern if the team plays three games in three days:

“I don’t think it will be for Josh because I cannot see him doing anything in game one if we are successful to hinder himself in game two based on this brace that he is wearing that totally immobilizes his foot. With Tyrel, that is definitely a factor but we have been playing a lot of Saturday and Monday games and he has had the same injury so it will be more of a stretch this week if we are successful and able to advance. We will just play it by ear because I am not going to do anything this weekend that will jeopardize his health the following week.”

On if he has a preference between Oklahoma State or Nebraska:

“Not really. Nebraska obviously got our attention here and we played really well against them up there. Oklahoma State, we played pretty well against them. But I’ve never gotten in the habit of hoping for something because usually what you hope for, you realize it’s not the best thing for you. So I really don’t care.”

On what the team will work on:

“We will work on us today. We will work on maybe each one of (Nebraska and Oklahoma State) tomorrow. Not as far as what they run, but how they guard the post and how they guard ball-screens, maybe work on that for a few minutes but we will still focus on us. Wednesday, by the time we finish practice, we will not know the winner. So that night we’re going to start to focus on whoever won the game.”

On if he will watch the game live:

“I won’t, I will be practicing. I think their game is at 11:30 as well, so we will be practicing as a team. We’ll have coaches scouting them though.”

On the Big 12 Tournament being in Kansas City:

“I could be wrong, but I think we will have the majority of the fans there, so that’s pretty good. My favorite part about the tournament being in Kansas City is that it’s a big deal to Kansas City. How many places can you go where you’re going to get the crowd like you’re going to get in this particular setting. If last year was any indication, I know it was us and K-State in the finals, you’re going to have unbelievable crowds. As long as one of us or Missouri is playing, it’s going to be packed. So I think that’s the best thing, the interest level in the area.”

On the firing of Pat Knight:

“I did not know (he was fired). First of all, I like Pat a lot. I like his staff a lot. They are good people and they try really hard. There’s got to be reasons why administrators do what they do. There’s got to be a good reason why. Just hearing about this, I don’t know what it would be. But certainly I’m sure there are reasons. Why it couldn’t wait a few days, I don’t have any idea. But certainly I feel bad for Pat and his staff and I hope his team goes and plays really hard for him.”

On what the team has accomplished:

“Somebody told me the other day, I think we are 62-5 the last two years and we haven’t celebrated yet. This year was a big deal the way that we won (the Big 12), but we didn’t clinch it because we still had Missouri. I think one thing I’ve done a very poor job of with my team is always talking about next game. They become very robotic in thinking about next game. Which is good in an NBA season, but in a college season, this is a big deal to win a championship and we need to enjoy the wins more from this point forward.”

Senior guard Brady Morningstar

On being named to Big 12 All-Defensive Team:

“I’m excited and happy, but the individual awards aren’t anything compared to team awards. They are good for our team because it shows that we’ve put in some hard work and done ok this year so far, but we have a lot bigger fish to fry than individual awards. We have the Big 12 tournament coming up and then the NCAA tournament. I’m excited for everyone that was honored, but we have some other stuff to take care of.”

On the importance of the Big 12 Championship:

“The post season championship gives you some momentum going into the NCAA tournament. It could give you momentum if you play well. There is some importance of playing well as a team together and having good thoughts going into Selection Sunday and going into your first round game (of the NCAA tournament). It’s a big weekend for us.”

On Kansas guard Tyrel Reed playing through injury:

“He’s a tough kid. If anyone would be able to play through injury it would be Tyrel. He’s a strong kid. I feel kind of bad for him because he can’t practice all the time and he wants to be out there. He’s done pretty well so far.”

Senior guard Tyrel Reed

On his injury:

“It’s just one of those things. You have to mentally prepare yourself for the days you are not going to be practicing. I’m still able to do a little bit of shooting and to work out with (strength coach Andrea) Hudy a little bit to try to stay in shape the best I can. It’s a little setback, but I have been dealing with it and will get through it.”

On the team’s goals for the Big 12 Championship:

“We just have to keep getting better. We are going to play the winner of Nebraska and Oklahoma State so we know that they are really good teams. We have to take it one game at a time and continue to get better and work on the things we need to do to be a better team.”

On the benefits of playing the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City:

“Obviously, it’s close to Lawrence. Usually when we have a game over there it’s pretty much crimson and blue. It’s nice to have our fans over there to watch us and it’s close to our family.”

Junior forward Marcus Morris

On how much he has improved this season:

“A lot. I have the best big man coach in the country on our staff. Danny Manning has taught me so much about the game. All of my development is basically because I have him and because I’m striving to be better and I’m putting in the work and the time to become better.”

On the best part about having the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City:

“The fans that come. We already have the best fans in the country and they’re all going to be there. The fan support is like a sixth man at times, so that’s definitely the best thing.”

On having a preference about who the team plays in the Big 12 Championship:

“I have a preference on who we play in the championship game but not the first round. We won’t skip over anybody though. We’re going to take every game one game at a time and make sure we get the win because losses came this year when we were just looking past a team.”