Bill Self gives his thoughts on tournament expansion, coaching a new and young roster

Kansas’ season will kick off Friday night with Late Night in the Phog. Head coach Bill Self met with the media on Wednesday to preview the season.

He discussed his thoughts on a potential NCAA Tournament expansion, what it’s like coaching a young roster, and what newcomers have stood out.

Self’s gut says no to NCAA Tournament expansion

The NCAA has discussed expanding the NCAA Tournament from 68 to 76 teams. Ross Dellenger reported that it’s “becoming closer to a reality. Self said he initially would be against it, but was also initially against expansion in the past.

“I would say my initial hunch would probably be no,” Self said. “But I thought it was no when we went from 48 to 54, and then no when you go from 54 to 64, and then no when you go from 64 to 68.”

The proposed agreement would begin in the 2026-27 season and add eight games to the “First Four” across Dayton and another site.

Self said if it goes to 76 teams, CBS would have to make sure it could fit the tournament in before the Masters.

“I don’t know if that’s the most positive thing,” Self said. “As long as the Masters is with CBS and the tournament is with CBS, you’ve got to squeeze everything into that three weekend window. I have no answers, but my initial gut [feeling] is I think we’re okay at 68.”

Kansas has skipped less steps coaching a new-look roster

There are just three returning players on this Kansas roster and just one that played minutes in Flory Bidunga, as Elmarko Jackson (injury) and Jamari McDowell both redshirted.

Kansas’ roster is more freshman-heavy than it’s been in recent years, with six on the roster. Bill Self said there’s been a difference coaching this team than last year’s.

“I don’t know that we’ve done a lot more teaching, but I do think there’s been maybe less steps skipped,” Self said. “When you have Hunter, KJ, and Juan, it becomes pretty boring if you work on the same things that we worked on the first day when they were freshmen.”

There’s also four transfers to go along with the six freshmen, making for almost an entirely new team. Self said they’ve probably not rushed through things as much as they have in the past.

“I’d say we’ve probably skipped [less] and not rushed through as many steps, last year, trying to get to meat and potatoes,” Self said. “I mean, we’re at the point of meat and potatoes now, but it’s still much more detailed than probably what it was before.”

Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White have asserted themselves as potential starters

Bill Self praised a couple of transfers during his press conference, starting with saying Illinois transfer Tre White has “outplayed everyone else” at the four next to Flory Bidunga. White’s skillset as a stretch four can complement Bidunga.

“Tre White has outplayed everyone else [at the four], so that’s easy,” Self said. “His skill set does complement Flory really well because he’s a stretch four, where we need to have the floor spaced so people can’t just clog it up… I think Tre’s been one of our best performers so far.”

Kansas will be White’s fourth stop in four years, after spending time at USC, Louisville, and Illinois.

Self said White has been able to learn from a lot of great coaches and thinks his playstyle will transition seamlessly to Kansas.

“I think the thing with Tre that makes him so attractive is his IQ is really high,” Self said. “And he can take what he’s learned from everybody, and he’s been well-coached, and not disregard it but utilize that in a way that we’re trying to do things.”

Self also mentioned Melvin Council as someone who has spent time in multiple different programs, from Wagner, to Monroe College at the JUCO level, and St. Bonaventure. He said Council will “be hard to beat out,” but still has some work to do getting comfortable at Kansas.

“He needs to get comfortable with me, which I think he’s getting more comfortable,” Self said. “But he and Elmarko, athletically, that’s about as athletic and quick-twitch as you’re going to find, and they’re both long. I see [Council] hopefully being an elite defender, and I see him and Marko mirroring each other, and I envision Darryn, Melvin, and Elmarko sharing that 80 minutes.”