Five years removed from Illinois, Self delivers his own Final Four team

Two months after Illinois' run to the 2005 NCAA title game, Bill Self swung through Chicago to check out the NBA predraft camp.

During a break in the action at Moody Bible, where he was tracking Brandon Rush, we chatted about how closely he followed his former school's brilliant campaign.

Since Self notices everything everywhere all the time, especially when it comes to the Illini, he could cite chapter and verse on their swell season.

I volunteered that he had more than a little to do with the 37-2 season, seeing as how he had recruited every guy who played except Nick Smith and lightly used Shaun Pruitt.

His reply was classic Self.

"Well, I like to think we had a little to do with it," he said, "but I don't think people around here want to hear that."

From years of being around Self, who chooses words carefully so he can sound understated while allowing you to read between the lines, I feel qualified to translate his thoughts into what he really meant:

"Darn right we had a lot to do with that. You think players like Deron Williams and Dee Brown and James Augustine showed up at Illinois because they loved Champaign-Urbana?

"Shoot, you'd think Illini fans would thank me for helping them out instead of being irate that I left. And what's with Bruce Weber's whole "Bill Self funeral" thing? Is he crazy?"

We dredge up this five-year kerfuffle today because Self has finally delivered to the Final Four a team he can call his own.

And because Kansas faces North Carolina in Saturday's marquee semifinal, it adds the whole "Roy Williams left Kansas" aspect to the spectacle.

That, conveniently, gives Self his biggest platform to suggest -- subtly, of course -- that the segment of Illini Nation embittered toward him should have chilled years ago.

"Fans will make a big deal out of (Kansas vs. Roy Williams)," Self said. "And I said this (Sunday), When people are upset that you leave -- and I've gone through this myself and of course he went through it at a very high level -- it's a backhanded compliment because they didn't want you to."

A moment later, Self added this thought while ostensibly still talking about Williams' departure from Kansas to North Carolina.

"Although I think feelings were hurt initially and all those things, but I think five years is enough time for people to let a few things go. And I think that's certainly been the case here."

Eventually, Self addressed his departure from Illinois directly. In essence, he said he left in April 2003 because Kansas is Kansas and Illinois doesn't quite compare.

"I've said all along, the reason we left was not to switch teams," Self said. "If that had been the case, we would have definitely stayed with the kids we knew and kids we loved and a talented group. We had that team coming back plus Charlie Villanueva committed.

"I expected (Illinois' Final Four run) to happen … but it was tough watching them play because I know I could have been a part of that. But it was also rewarding knowing you brought those guys in and that they've thrived in a new system and performed very well.

"I just kept telling myself: Hey, we did it for the long run, and this is the long run."