Bill Self and Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” have one thing in common – they were given everything, but wanted to go back home to Kansas.

I can understand the decision made by Self to return to his roots, but don’t expect me to respect it. Because when it comes down to it, what he did was selfish in more ways than one. Why? Bill Self simply didn’t get it.

The University of Illinois was willing to anoint Self the ruler of the land because those who grow up around central Illinois realize that on the priority list religion is No.1 and basketball is 1-A. Self was building a dynasty at Illinois and a mind-set that’s never existed before. A road game at the Assembly Hall meant you went home with a loss as Self lost one home game in three years. The Fighting Illini had never been a constant lock for the NCAA Tournament under Lou Henson but have been in the big dance almost every year since the 90s. Self could’ve been the closest thing to a human god in Champaign-Urbana but he pushed people away. Why? He didn’t get it.

Self had the audacity to sit in his office one week ago and tell New Gazette’s (italics) Loren Tate that he and his family was happy in Champaign. Along with Tate, I’ll be the first to admit that I bought the lie hook, line and sinker. Sure, he loved Illinois about as much as I love going to class. He didn’t get it.

Looking back Self did nothing but complain, whine and moan about things that didn’t go his way at Illinois. He never let go that athletic director Ron Guenther wouldn’t approve a new $100 million Assembly Hall. Hey Bill, in this type of economy, there’s nothing wrong with the Hall.

This season, he groaned about playing a home game at the United Center during the IHSA wrestling playoffs (yeah, I hate those free trips to Chicago too). Finally, he whined that the Assembly Hall wasn’t loud enough because of the small student’s section (hey, ticking off the alumni who sit up front, great idea). He didn’t get it.

All right, what didn’t he get?

Along the way Bill Self forgot that coaching was never about him and it never really was. It’s about kids he didn’t want, and a program that he never appreciated being apart of.

Not once did he consider it a privilege to coach basketball at the University of Illinois and finally proved it by leaving in the middle of the night. This makes me believe he’ll take that same attitude to Kansas. Self will not be truly happy with where he’s at because he’ll always be looking for more.

This is why Illinois should look past Tom Crean but concentrate on Northern Illinois head coach Rub Judson. Judson was a former assistant at Illinois and bleeds orange and blue. Judson’s last career job would be the U of I. You see, he gets it. That’s all they ask – love where you’re at and what you do.

One day, Bill Self will realize he had a small piece of the world by the tail and chose to spit at all the people who built him up. Maybe then, he’ll get it.

I guess as the old saying goes – if you don’t want to be there, get the hell out. However, don’t ever even think about coming back Bill. The scare from the back stab wound will always be there and they’ll remember put it there.