Kansas donors willing to pay to keep Self

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - If big bucks are needed to fend off Oklahoma State and keep Bill Self as the Jayhawks' basketball coach, wealthy Kansas donors seem ready to reach for their wallets.

Immediately after Kansas beat Memphis in overtime Monday night for the NCAA championship, speculation intensified that oil and energy magnate T. Boone Pickens might be coming after the Jayhawks' coach on behalf of Oklahoma State.

Self is an Oklahoma native who played for the Cowboys and was once their assistant coach. He remains highly popular there.

Prominent Kansas boosters tell the Associated Press they could mount a good challenge to Pickens in a bidding war and that they're tired of losing head coaches to other programs.

Self has said he wants to stay at Kansas but wants the security of a long-term contract.