As anyone who reads this column knows, I’m not a sports fan. It’s not that I disapprove of college or professional sports, it’s just that I’m a spectator sports agnostic. When I was young enough (and flexible enough) to play sports, I did. But I’ve just never much enjoyed sitting and watching while other people play.

Indeed, I have to admit that when I was dean of the law school and I was permitted to buy season tickets for football and basketball without paying a premium, I only went to two games in six years. The rest of the time I gave the tickets away to faculty, staff, alumni and students. When I stepped down from the deanship and was told that I could retain the seats, albeit with a premium, I declined, much to my wife’s regret since she is a Kansas University basketball fan. I’d rather give the money to charity or buy more books. So, it is rare for me to devote this column to sports.

All of the above is a rather long preface to my saying that even though KU’s basketball team has twice lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, I believe that all of us who love KU ought not to blame Bill Self or the players. Actually, I think we should praise them. I think we should praise Coach Self and his players for several important reasons.

First, we cannot forget that KU won the Big 12 this year, a not inconsiderable achievement with a young team. To me, the performance of a team over a whole season ought to count more than its play in one tournament. Anyone who did better in his annual grade-point average in high school than in the one-time ACT or SAT exam will understand this.

Second, I’m a great believer in the old cliche that “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” By this, I don’t mean that we should all critique the KU-Bradley game. What I mean is that I have the distinct impression that Coach Self is a man of integrity and that he instills in his players academic and social values that we want college athletes to have. This doesn’t happen at all universities.

I was particularly impressed by the KU players’ remarks after the game. The players were articulate, modest, and obviously cared that KU alumni and fans were disappointed. They didn’t make excuses for themselves. Nor did I hear the arrogance or the self-centeredness that has become common in professional athletes’ comments.

I give the student-athletes a great deal of credit for their grace in a difficult postgame interview and I give Coach Self great credit for ensuring that his players behaved in so laudable a manner. As one who is not a fan, I’m glad to see such commendable attitudes among players.

The third and final reason why I think that we should not blame Coach Self, but rather praise and encourage him, is based on another cliche, that “what’s worth having, is worth working for.” Coach Self and the KU basketball team have obviously worked hard this season. I have no doubt they will work even harder now. The players, after all, are mostly young and still learning. Coach Self, I think, is just the person to teach them what they need to know so that next year, they’ll do even better. That’s what education is all about, isn’t it?