Kansas University coach Bill Self said he would take the call if Oklahoma State phones him about its coaching vacancy.

“It’s my alma mater,” he said. “I said this last week I would recommend they go in a different direction. I still feel that way. I’m not going to say that couldn’t potentially happen because I guess it potentially can,” he added of being contacted by AD Mike Holder or booster T. Boone Pickens.

“I love Kansas. I love my job. Hopefully I’ll spend a long time here. I’m not looking to leave.”

Self said he would meet with KU athletic director Lew Perkins in coming days. Perkins has said Self is in line for a raise after such a successful season. Rumors indicate OSU booster Pickens may fund a $6 million signing bonus with a 10-year contract at $4 million a year.

As far as KU’s players with NBA aspirations, junior Brandon Rush said he’d “take some time off” and announce his plans in a couple of weeks.

It’s long been believed he and soph Darrell Arthur will turn pro.

Arthur and soph Sherron Collins both said they’d not been thinking about the NBA the past couple of weeks while pursuing the national title. Mario Chalmers’ dad, Ronnie, also said the family hadn’t discussed his son’s NBA options at all.

¢This one’s for Rod: Rodrick Stewart, who couldn’t play in the Final Four because of a freak knee injury, was helped up the podium steps by teammates to take part in the trophy presentation after Monday’s overtime victory over Memphis.

“I wouldn’t change a thing about this weekend,” Stewart, KU’s senior from Seattle, said. “If I was told we’d lose if I was healthy and win if I was hurt, I’d rather be hurt,” said Stewart, who fractured his right kneecap in a dunk drill at the Final Four shootaround Friday and will have surgery Wednesday.

“This is a dream come true. My teammates say they did it for me. It’s a great feeling to win the national championship. There have been great teams at Kansas, and we are now part of history, too.”

¢Julian on hand: New Orleans Hornets rookie Julian Wright, who left KU after two years for the NBA, watched the game, stood on the podium during KU’s victory celebration and also was in the winning locker room after the contest.

“This is a great story. The players, the coaching staff and fans deserve it,” Wright said. “I feel a part of it. The guys say I helped by cheering them on. I’m so proud of Mario (for hitting game-tying shot with :02 left). That’s why you go to a school like Kansas, to make a shot like that. We are now the last team standing. It feels great.”

¢Chipping at lead: Collins on KU erasing a nine-point deficit in the last two minutes.

“We chipped at it, made some stops. They missed free throws and played into our hands.”

Of his steal and three that cut Memphis’ lead to 60-56 at 1:45, he said: “I tried to show some heart like the rest of the guys. Once we tied it (at buzzer), we knew we’d win it. We knew we’d win after regulation was over.”

¢Mom’s take: Chalmers’ mom, Almarie, on the victory. “I think it’s going to bring the community closer together. I’m so happy for the players, coaches, Cindy (Self), everybody. It’s an awesome feeling.”

¢Manning nets another ring: Danny Manning, who led KU to a national title in 1988, is part of another national championship. KU’s assistant coach hugged head coach Self after the final horn.

“It’s different. This is more vivid. It’s more recent,” Manning said. “To win the national championship is very special. I’m happy I played on that team, but this is a new part of our tradition. This is for the guys, coach Self, the university. Both are very special.”

How’d he feel watching “One Shining Moment” in the arena on the victory podium Monday?

“Beautiful, beautiful,” he said.

¢Travel plans: KU associate AD Jim Marchiony said the team hoped to board a flight for Forbes Field by noon today. The team bus will go straight from Forbes Field today to KU’s Memorial Stadium for a celebration. The bus could arrive as early as 2 p.m. in Topeka, Marchiony said, but there’s a chance of a delayed departure in San Antonio by up to 90 minutes.

¢Roy in the house rooting for KU: North Carolina coach Roy Williams sat about 10 rows behind KU’s bench with his wife, Wanda, and daughter Kimberly. The former KU coach was wearing a black shirt with a big Jayhawk sticker on it. UNC assistant Joe Holladay, a former KU aide, also was in the area.

Other former KU head coaches in the KU section were Larry Brown and Ted Owens. In other words, all of KU’s former head coaches who are alive attended the title game.

¢Faces in crowd: Former KU basketball players Alonzo Jamison, Greg Gurley, David Johanning, Mike Maddox, Greg Ostertag, Scot Pollard, Ryan Robertson, Bud Stallworth, Rex Walters and Walt Wesley were among those spotted in the stands. KU football coach Mark Mangino attended.

¢OT talk: It was the seventh overtime game in NCAA title game history. It was the first since 1997 when Arizona beat Kentucky, 84-79.