Future turns to gold for KU coach

SAN ANTONIO -- The price of doing business with Bill Self just went up.

Big time.

Kansas 84, North Carolina 66.

Saturday night's stunning Final Four victory by Self's KU team over the favored Tar Heels is bound to drive up Self's asking price when he gets around to talking about a new contract at season's end.

And KU won't be the only one asking (begging?) Self to coach its basketball team next season.

Several sources have confirmed that Oklahoma State officials are prepared to offer Self some big-time bucks in an attempt to entice him to return to coach at his alma mater.

If some reports are even close to being accurate, we're talking funny money here. The latest rumor to surface in coaching circles this weekend was that OSU plans to toss a $6 million signing bonus on the table if it can get Self to agree to a contract that reportedly could pay him at least $3.5 million per season.

Now remember, those were the numbers that were being tossed around BEFORE KU's win over the Tar Heels, which vaulted KU into Monday's night's championship game against Memphis, which defeated UCLA in the first game at the Alamodome.

The victory is bound to turn Self into a cult hero for KU fans for one reason -- he defeated North Carolina's Roy Williams, the coach who angered Jayhawks' supporters five years ago when he left after 15 seasons to coach at his alma mater.

Saturday night's victory before 43,718 spectators at the Alamodome is going to put intense pressure on KU athletic director Lew Perkins to make sure he keeps Self coaching the Jayhawks.

The now-deeply-in-love-with-Self boosters will never forgive Perkins if he lets his coach slip away to Stillwater.

Perkins is facing a formidable foe in OSU and ultra-rich supporter Boone Pickens.

The Texas billionaire has made no secret of his infatuation with Self's coaching abilities, and is determined to bring his fellow Cowboy back to OSU.

Self made a guaranteed $1.397 million this season. With bonuses, an annuity and summer camps, Self's salary will now get bumped up to $1.9 million because of taking KU to the national title.

But the key word here is "guaranteed." Inside sources have confirmed that Self wants Perkins and KU to come up with a guaranteed contract that would put him the range of $2.5 million per season. That's the going rate for coaches like Ohio State's Thad Matta and Kentucky's Billy Gillispie.

Inside sources have also confirmed that Perkins has informed Self that there is no way KU has the resources to match what is expected to be a blockbuster deal by OSU.

And Perkins has to know that OSU is ready, willing and able to guarantee every single dollar it offers Self.

So, what happens if OSU does indeed come up with the staggering offer that is the hottest rumor around here this weekend?

That rumor has been fueled by the fact that OSU athletic director Mike Holder and assistant AD Dave Martin are in town, and they aren't there to watch the Final Four.

Self's attorney, Tulsa-based Stuart Campbell, is also in San Antonio. While OSU officials will follow the rules and not talk to Self until after his season is over, that won't stop them from talking to Campbell.

Ever since OSU forced Sean Sutton to resign last Tuesday, Self has adamantly maintained that he intends to be coaching at KU next season.

But sources said Self has received telephone calls from several of his fellow coaches who have all had a similar message: "You've got to go (to OSU). You've got to go make as much as you can and then you can get the hell out of the business a rich man."

The performance by his Jayhawks Saturday night will only help his cause.

While it was Self's first appearance in the Final Four, his Jayhawks played the opening half like he was the veteran coach in the national semifinal instead of Williams.

KU immediately took it to North Carolina, especially Tar Heels' center Tyler Hansbrough.

The Jayhawks refused to be intimidated by the national player of the year, as forwards Darrell Aurth er and Darnell Jackson scored the two opening baskets over Hansbrough in a preview of what was to come.

Playing with precision at both ends of the Alamodome court, the Jayhawks totally dominated a North Carolina team that entered the NCAA Tournament as the overall No. 1 seed.

KU's defense forced the Tar Heals to go 0-13 from the field over a nine-minute stretch.

The Jayhawks, meanwhile, got balanced scoring. With six players scoring at least six points the first 20 minutes, KU went on runs of 18-0 and 25-2 (two North Carolina free throws) to take a 40-12 lead.

The play of freshman center Cole Aldrich was the biggest surprise of the shocking first-half domination by KU.

Aldrich, who had played an average of only eight minutes per contest this season, didn't back down from the more experienced Hansbrough as he had six points and six rebounds and tied his career high with three blocked shots in 13 minutes of action.

The second half was just as impressive for KU in a different way. When the Tar Heels cut the Jayhawks' lead to 54-50, most in the sold-out arena figured the nation's No. 1 team was going to pull off an historic comeback.

But KU's veteran players, led by guard Brandon Rush's 25 points, were able to regroup extend the lead.

So the win enables KU to go for its first national title since the Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma to win the 1988 Final Four in Kansas City, Mo.

No matter what happens in what should be a great title game between KU and Memphis, the fun will have only just begun for Bill Self and his bank account.

ead Dave Sittler’s blog .