Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self said Tuesday, April 1, 2008, he isn't interested in the vacant coaching job at Oklahoma State.

Asked Tuesday about the newly created basketball coaching vacancy at his alma mater, Kansas University coach Bill Self did not say: “I don’t give a (bleep) about …” On the contrary, Self said he cares “deeply” about Oklahoma State. He also made it clear he’s not interested in coaching there.

“Spent 11 years of my life at OSU,” Self said at a news conference conducted to discuss KU’s upcoming Final Four appearance. “But nobody from there has contacted me, and if they did, I would strongly recommend they move in another direction.”

On his way out of Hadl Auditorium, Self spelled it out even more clearly, saying, “I’m not a candidate.”

Outgoing OSU coach Sean Sutton, whose Cowboys upset KU, 61-60, on Feb. 23, resigned under pressure Tuesday. The timing could not have been worse for the school’s Big 12 brother Kansas.

School officials did their best to minimize the potential distraction.

Both Self and KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins, who share a close relationship, indicated they will meet after the season to redo the coach’s contract, which already was sweetened a year ago.

“Nobody has called me from Oklahoma State, which I would assume they would have done that,” Perkins said. “We’re going to do everything we possibly can to have Bill be our basketball coach here for a long, long time. I see no reason why that won’t happen.”