Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self was asked in general about interactions between fans and players during Monday’s weekly Big 12 coaches call with media that cover the league.

The topic has been in the news after Sunday’s announcement that Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart has been suspended three games for pushing a fan during Saturday’s game at Texas Tech.

Asked if he talks to his players about certain arenas, Self said: “I think we don’t talk about the seating arrangement or how close fans are, but the whole thing is, you don’t communicate with fans. It’s water off your back and there’s no communication between fans and players.

“Certainly that was a different situation at least from my view than a lot of situations that occur,” Self added. “The thing that has always concerned me most is about the storming of the court (after games). You could have a bumping or something like that, that could escalate into something else. I’ve never addressed my team obviously about what happened Saturday in that respect in which it happened (in OSU-Texas Tech game), just in general. Just don’t communicate in any way shape or form with anybody that was there just to watch a game.”

Self on Missouri football player Michael Sam announcing he is gay over the weekend:

“The thing I would say more than anything is there’s a reason why Missouri had such a great season in football. Obviously they have good players. I’m not on the inside and know what goes on. (But) when you have the confidentiality of your entire team in a way in which they did (players letting Sam make the announcement on his own terms after the season), that means you know they got each others’ back,” Self said. “That’s one thing to me that stood out. Secondly, without knowing anything about the situation, it takes a lot of courage and guts for someone to stand up for their own convictions and how they feel and I certainly applaud what was done yesterday. I don’t think anybody should ever have to live or hide behind who they are or how they feel, so I certainly applaud that.”