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Hall of Fame: Larry Brown honors Bill Self again

By Stan Unruh

HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 14: Larry Brown of the Southern Methodist Mustangs smiles a few moments before defeating the Temple Owls during a semifinal game of the American 2015 Championships at the XL Center on March, 14, 2015 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 14: Larry Brown of the Southern Methodist Mustangs smiles a few moments before defeating the Temple Owls during a semifinal game of the American 2015 Championships at the XL Center on March, 14, 2015 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is just days away from starting the 2017 season. He has some more important responsibilities early next month.

It was no joke on April 1, when the Basketball Hall of Fame announced the induction of another Kansas basketball coach. We watched Bill Self discuss the news during television interviews at the Final-four in Arizona. Jayhawk fans were thrilled and ached for him at the same time.  We wanted to watch Self coach the Jayhawks in Arizona.

Self’s big moment scheduled September 8, only became bigger this week.  The Hall announced the presenters for the 2017 class.  It is wonderful to see that former Jayhawk coach Larry Brown is listed to present Self.

Kansas basketball fans old enough to remember, recall the excitement when Brown left UCLA to coach the Jayhawks. Yes, I know he spent a couple of seasons with the NBA’s Nets in between college jobs. He didn’t return to Westwood and came to Lawrence.

As a matter of fact, Kansas basketball fans are still enjoying the results of Brown’s decision to coach the Jayhawks.  I don’t want to consider what might have happened to Bill Self if Brown stays in the NBA instead of coming to Kansas. Next to Naismith, I think Brown’s arrival in Lawrence is obviously among the most important decisions in the history of Kansas athletics.

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Living in Southern California, I had to temper my excitement at the news of Brown’s arrival at KU. On the other hand, several of my then Pac-10 colleagues gloated when Brown left Kansas and took another NBA. I was just glad he didn’t leave KU and return to UCLA. All Kansas basketball fans look forward to seeing Brown introduce Self at the Hall of Fame Ceremony. September 8 is a huge day for Jayhawks everywhere.

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