🚨 Breaking: Bill Self announces return to Kansas

• 🏀 Breaking: Bill Self never left

• 📝 Quick Links: KU’s McDs and Gary Woodland’s weekend

• 🔒 Resharing the Transfer Portal Hearings

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EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

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Bill Self is coming back for his 24th season as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks.

“I remain focused and committed to Kansas basketball competing for a national championship,” Self said. “I look forward to seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.”

After Kansas’ loss to St. John’s, everything I was hearing sounded like KU was expecting Self to retire. Self acknowledged as much in the press conference.

He also said he loves coaching, but he needed to make sure he felt good enough to do it.

He went out and tilted the scales, exploring what his roster could look like next year — and how much it might cost to get the kind of team he’s hoping for.

Self got the answers he needed for the upcoming season. While KU has always been a big spender, it hasn’t been in the top group for NIL spending over the last few seasons.

While I Heard a coaching search was ramping up internally at Kansas, the decision was squarely viewed as the Hall-of-Famer’s to make.

When Kansas hired Self in 2003, he walked into his first press conference and called Kansas a career-ending job.

I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer to see if he was right.

About the 24th Season…

• Another roster overhaul is coming. I’m hearing an expectation of significant roster turnover ahead for KU.

  • Self will have to get the transfer portal right in order to have the season he wants at Kansas.

• 2026’s No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes is expected to announce his college decision within the next two weeks. The two favorites are Kansas and Kentucky.

  • I’m Hearing Self was recruiting Stokes right after the sending ended, which seems like a good sign.

• The 9th head coach conversation will wait at least another year.

A note on what I reported: On March 23, I published that people I trust would be surprised if Self was coaching next season. I reported what I was Hearing at the time, and I wouldn’t change it.

Spread the word!

You can help support my work by telling your friends about today’s Hearing by copy and pasting this link into your group texts or on social media.

🏀 You can see Bill Self’s statement here.

⛳️ Watch KU’s Gary Woodland win the Shell Houston Open, just 30 months after a tumor pressed on the fear-regulating part of his brain. Weeks ago he opened up about his PTSD struggles through recovery.

• And these celebration videos and interviews are absolute must-watches. His return remains one of the best story in sports.

I believe Woodland and Self are good friends. It was a great weekend for Jayhawks.

 🏀 KU commit Tay Kinney and target Tyran Stokes both played in the McDonald’s All American game last night. See Kinney’s highlights here and Stokes’ here.

👕 Celebrate Bill’s return with Homefield Apparel, the exclusive sponsor of KUHearings.

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