Kansas coach Bill Self, right, peeks around assistant coach Doc Sadler during practice for a second-round game in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 21, 2013. Kansas is scheduled to play Western Kentucky on Friday.

Kansas University director of basketball operations Doc Sadler has been mentioned as a possible candidate for a full-time assistant coach opening on Iowa State’s staff. ISU is seeking an assistant to replace T.J. Otzelberger, who last week was hired as an assistant at the University of Washington after eight seasons in Ames, Iowa.

“Keep an eye on Doc Sadler, who landed as Kansas’ director of operations after head coaching stints at Nebraska and Texas-El Paso,” Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register wrote last week speculating about the Cyclone opening. “In eight head coaching seasons, his teams combined for a 149-107 record. He knows strategy.”

On Saturday, Jeff Goodman of CBSsports.com tweeted: “Don’t be surprised if former Nebraska coach Doc Sadler lands at Iowa State on Fred Hoiberg’s staff.”

Asked Saturday about the report linking Sadler to ISU, KU coach Bill Self told the Journal-World: “Doc and Fred are close friends. It would not surprise me at all if they visited about a vacant assistant position.”

Self said in a recent media teleconference he would fill his own assistant coaching position (which opened when Joe Dooley headed to Florida Gulf Coast) from the outside, meaning Sadler is not a candidate.

“Doc and I have visited … I do know this, I really, really, really enjoyed having him around. He probably has to do more than what he’s done for us, to be honest with you,” he said of Sadler’s need to coach. “He was a big asset to us in that position. He wants to coach, so we’ll see how that plays out.”

Self had no further comment on KU’s coaching opening Saturday. Self has only said that he normally has individuals in mind in case openings occur.

Fresh jerseys

Three of KU’s incoming basketball freshmen have revealed their jersey numbers.

Conner Frankamp, 6-0 guard, Wichita North, has landed No. 23; Frank Mason, a 5-11 guard, Massanutten Military Academy, Woodstock, Va., No. 0 (zero) and Brannen Greene, 6-7 forward, Tift County High, Tifton, Ga., No. 14. Wayne Selden, 6-5 guard, Tilton (N.H.) School and Joel Embiid, 7-foot, Rock School, Gainesville, Fla., said they have not finalized numbers yet.

Pierce’s future in air

Former KU forward Paul Pierce, who has played his entire 15-year NBA career with the Boston Celtics, may or may not be back in Beantown next season. He has a team option for next season at $15.3 million, with a $5 million buyout before June 30.

“Listen, Paul’s been one of the greatest Celtics of all-time and that will play a part in it,” Celtics GM Danny Ainge said on WEEI radio’s Salk and Holley Show. “We love what he’s done for us, but ultimately we have to do what we think is the best for us from this point forward, and I think Paul still has a lot of basketball left in him.”

“I’ve been thinking that the last three years (that this might be last year in Boston),” Pierce told the Boston Globe. “Nothing’s changed. I’ve had a sense of urgency (to win) since my first year in the league.”

Oubre update

Kelly Oubre, a 6-5 junior from Bush High in Fort Bend, Texas, tells ESPN.com that UConn and Arizona are recruiting him the most heavily. Rivals.com’s No. 27-rated player in the Class of 2014 also has KU, UCLA, Georgetown, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Baylor and Alabama on his list. ESPN says KU, Zona and Baylor have visited him and Oubre has made an unofficial visit to Texas.

Good luck to recruit

Superstitious coaches might want to recruit Wilbraham and Monson (Mass.) junior center Goodluck Okonoboh, who is ranked No. 34 nationally in the Class of 2014 by Rivals.com. Syracuse and Indiana may be leading for Goodluck, who does not have KU on his current list.