Episode 182 - Bill Self is Back

Episode 182 - Bill Self is Back

From In The Zone With Anthony by Anthony Smith

April 2, 2026 · 21 min

About this episode

This episode discusses Bill Self's return to coaching and the implications for the Kansas Jayhawks' future.

Bill Self is officially returning for the 2026-27 season — and the Kansas Jayhawks are reloading with purpose! In this episode of In The Zone with Anthony Smith, we break down the latest news: After health scares and a tough NCAA Tournament exit, Coach Self shuts down retirement rumors and recommits to chasing another national championship at Allen Fieldhouse. We dive deep into his legendary legacy — multiple national titles (2008 & 2022), record wins, 17 Big 12 crowns, NBA talent factory, and what his return means for the program. Then we examine KU’s 2026 recruiting class: Headlined by five-star point guard Taylen Kinney (the confident scorer Self compared to a young Mario Chalmers), plus athletic frontcourt piece Davion Adkins, versatile wing Trent Perry, and sharp-shooting guard Luke Barnett (called the best shooter Self has recruited since Gradey Dick). Currently ranked as high as No. 1 nationally on some services and a strong top-5 across the board — is this a championship foundation or a player away from elite status? We compare it to past monster KU classes (think 2005 with Chalmers/Rush or 2013 with Embiid/Wiggins) and discuss how it stacks up in today’s game…

People in this episode

Host: Anthony Smith

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Tech, Houston, Arizona

Books & works: In The Zone

More episodes of In The Zone With Anthony

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the In The Zone With Anthony podcast page.