Illinois coach says he wouldn't rule out KU

URBANA, Ill. -- Illinois basketball coach Bill Self, reported to be a top candidate to succeed Roy Williams at Kansas, told more than 700 Illini supporters Tuesday night that he is happy where he is, but did not close the door on a move.

"This is a great, great program," Self said after handing out team awards at the team's annual postseason banquet. "I don't know what the future holds, but I am excited to be your coach."

Self said before the banquet that he has not been contacted by Kansas. "That's the honest truth," he said.

The University of Illinois thought enough of Self to reward him in December with a contract extension that will pay him $5 million if he stays all five years.

But Kansas is a college basketball job every coach covets. Self once was an assistant coach there and has roots in the Big 12 Conference, having played and coached at Oklahoma State.

The question is whether Self would want to return to those roots now to replace Roy Williams and leave behind what he is building in Champaign-Urbana.

Self said if the Jayhawks do call, he certainly will listen.

"I don't know what I'd tell them," he said.

"There is a ton of incentive to stay," Self told reporters. "My family's happy, I'm happy and we're going to be good" next year.

At Illinois, Self won a share of the Big Ten title in his first two seasons and came within a last-second miss at Wisconsin of winning the title outright in 2002-03 with a team that started one senior.

"We're on the cusp of doing something great," Self said.

Self, 40, signed a contract extension in December that will pay him $900,000 a year beginning in July. The deal also will pay him a $500,000 annuity if he stays until the deal expires after the 2007-08 season.

That's comparable with what Williams earned at Kansas. He was paid a base annual salary of about $130,000, but his total compensation was well over $1 million a year, the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World reported.

Self has won the hearts of Illini fans with his 78-24 record in three seasons and with his easygoing friendly manner. On his way into the banquet hall Tuesday, he walked through a line of about 100 members of the school's Orange Krush student fan club, who chanted "We want Bill Self."