San Antonio ? Strumming a guitar, a guy wearing a black cowboy hat, jacket, slacks and spurs serenaded Kansas University’s basketball players and coaches to the song “Deep in the Heart of Texas” as the Jayhawks streamed off shuttle buses into the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel just after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“Being from Oklahoma, I’ve seen that before,” KU coach Bill Self told a throng of reporters at the hotel, located just two blocks from the Alamo.

The Jayhawks, who will work out behind closed doors at the San Antonio Spurs’ practice facility today and Friday and also hold an open practice from 1 to 1:50 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome, are happy to be in Texas for KU’s first Final Four in the five-year Bill Self era.

“I think this is the best place to have the Final Four. I’m not just saying that because we’re here – in large part because of the River Walk,” Self said of the famous area with shops and restaurants in downtown San Antonio.

Self remembers his last trip to San Antonio. His Illinois Fighting Illini defeated KU in the 2001 Sweet 16, then fell to Arizona in the Elite Eight.

“It was a bittersweet weekend,” Self said, “because we played great against Kansas. We controlled the game from start to finish. The next night against Arizona, six guys fouled out.”

Self repeated a common theme of the postseason, indicating he and his assistants would try to shield the players from distractions at the Final Four. KU will meet North Carolina at 7:47 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome. The winner will meet either UCLA or Memphis in the title game Monday night.

“I’ve talked to many coaches who have brought teams to the Final Four. Every one told me you don’t understand the potential distractions from a media standpoint, from autograph seekers. You can’t let the guys in the lobby. It is a grind. We’ll do all we can to help protect the guys,” Self said.

“I’ve already burned a lot of energy with ticket requests. As of this morning, our players had it all worked out so we don’t have to think about it here,” he said.

Self said he liked the mood of the team.

“Sunday was relief. Monday was jubilation. Tuesday we were still high, now we’re at an even keel,” he said.

Self said the fact his alma mater, Oklahoma State, is looking for a basketball coach to replace Sean Sutton would not classify as a distraction to his players, who are elated to be one of the final four standing.

Self has said emphatically he’s “not a candidate” for the post.

“I already made a statement about that yesterday,” Self said. “That will not be a distraction. My statement was, and I do believe it, obviously I haven’t been contacted. I don’t think they would contact me now anyway. If they do I would tell them they should probably look on in a different direction,” he said with a laugh.

Self said the focus will only be on Saturday’s game.

“In general terms, you’ve just got to believe that you’re going to do it,” Self said. “So many times when you’re hoping to win, you play not to lose – and we can’t be that way. All the teams in the Final Four are saying the same thing. You’ve got to go take what you want and be aggressive from the outset.

“We’re not going to change who we are and play differently because Carolina plays fast. I think we play our best when we play fast. I think it will be a great game and obviously competitive with great athletes on the floor. We just need to be who we are.”

¢ Health OK: Self said all of his players were healthy heading into the weekend.

“Sherron’s good,” he said of sophomore Sherron Collins, who last week was bothered by tonsillitis and a bruised knee. “Right now, knock on wood, we’re in pretty good shape for this time of year.”

¢ More on Sutton: John Rohde of the Daily Oklahoman says the school is dreaming if it thinks it can land coaches from powerhouse programs.

“Oklahoma State is a good basketball job with a nice following. But it’s not in the same stratosphere as Kansas or Kentucky,” Rohde wrote. “This is why KU’s Bill Self won’t be the Cowboys’ next coach, and neither will UK’s Billy Gillispie.

Rohde’s realistic list of possibilities: Anthony Grant, VCU; Sean Miller, Xavier; Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt; Chris Lowery, Southern Illinois; Keno Davis, Drake. Former Arizona assistant Kevin O’Neill also could be a candidate, the Tulsa World reports.