While Illinois basketball sees the Final Four matchup with UConn on the horizon, it is also good to think about the past.
As has been stated and restated by just about everyone, the last time the Illini made the Final Four was in 2005. That was a national championship team that fell just short of North Carolina, 75-70.
Illinois is trying to break through that barrier and bring home the national championship for the first time ever. That 2005 team was special, and they were the closest we have ever gotten to the pinnacle of the sport. We couldn’t have done it without the architect of those teams, either.
Bill Self.
Over the past week or so, the rumors were swirling that Self could be done at Kansas. On Wednesday, he put all of that to bed, as he is coming back to the Jayhawks for another go. He has decided not to hang up the clipboard.
NEW: Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self will return next season, @PeteNakos and @Brett_McMurphy report. https://t.co/H8awM5Azhf pic.twitter.com/HOJHMBq4b2
— On3 (@On3) April 1, 2026
Self’s time in Lawrence has been impressive. He carries a 79.5% winning percentage to go along with his four Final Four appearances and two national championships. He now looks to build on that Hall of Fame career with year No. 24 with the Jayhawks.
The transition to Kansas for Bill Self had to go through the Illinois basketball program
The career Self has had at Kansas has been incredible. He is a constant winner, and he is going back to a ton of resources.
Getting to Kansas was a quick road. He spent four years at Oral Roberts and three seasons at Tulsa. Those were stepping stones to get to Illinois in 2000.
Self replaced Lon Kruger, who took the head coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks. It was an instant success for Self with Kruger’s crew. Illinois made the Elite Eight in year one. We bowed out in the Sweet 16 in year two. Year three was a bit of a disappointment, as Illinois lost in the Round of 32.
That team was really young, though. We had so much talent, and we won 25 games with numerous freshmen getting playing time.
Self brought in players like Dee Brown, Deron Williams, James Augustine, Roger Powell, and Luther Head, among others. He was the architect of the Illinois team that, just two years later, would make it to the national championship.
Sadly, Self didn’t make it two more years. When Kansas comes calling, you have to answer it. Roy Williams bolted the Jayhawks for North Carolina. Illinois then became a stepping stone, as Self then left for Kansas.
If you think about it, in today’s NIL, Illinois would have been gutted when Self left after the 2003 season. He would have taken all of the talent with him. Without Self, his coaching, and the talent he brought to Champaign, the Illini would not have felt that great success all those years ago. He is now back in the game, and maybe we can get some sweet revenge on the guy who once gave us great happiness. Welcome back, Coach Self.