CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Kansas got permission Wednesday to speak with Illinois basketball coach Bill Self about its coaching vacancy, an Illinois spokesman said.

"Kansas has contacted us, and apparently will be contacting Bill," Illinois sports information director Kent Brown said. Self left Illinois on Wednesday for a Florida vacation.

Self still deciding

Illinois basketball coach Bill Self, the leading candidate to replace Roy Williams as Kansas coach, spent Thursday calling confidants to gauge opinion on his upcoming decision to either stay at Illinois or take over for Williams. Self, on vacation in South Florida, remains undecided. As of Thursday evening, he had not scheduled a face-to-face meeting with a Kansas athletic department representative. Kansas received permission Wednesday to speak with Self about the job. Andy Katz, ESPN.com

Self is the top candidate to succeed Roy Williams, who left Kansas on Monday for his alma mater, North Carolina. The other candidates: Marquette coach Tom Crean, Gonzaga's Mark Few, and Notre Dame's Mike Brey. Wichita State's Mark Turgeon, a former player under Williams in the mid-1980s, removed his name from consideration Thursday night.

Self was a graduate assistant coach at Kansas in 1985 and has roots in the Big 12 going back to his playing days at Oklahoma State, where he also coached as an assistant.

"Certainly, I understand why there would be speculation, with my relationship with the University of Kansas in the past," Self said Tuesday night.

"If they do call, I may say, 'Let's visit,' or after talking a few minutes I may say, 'I don't feel it.' I certainly wouldn't mislead anyone," Self said.

Kansas' interim athletic director, Drue Jennings, said Tuesday that he'd even like Williams to have a voice in choosing his successor.

"What I'd like to do is for us to be able to bounce people off Roy. We'd like to bounce those candidates or a candidate off him to get his reaction," Jennings said. "By all means, we'll ask him. We'll ask him what he knows of any potential candidates we might look at."

Self told more than 700 Illini supporters at the team's annual postseason banquet that he is happy at Illinois, but he did not close the door on a move.

"This is a great, great program," Self said. "I don't know what the future holds, but I am excited to be your coach."

He told the crowd that Illinois basketball has a bright future. The team returns four starters next season from a team that went 25-7 and won the Big Ten Tournament championship.

"This was as fun a season as I've ever had as a head coach," Self said.

Departing senior Brian Cook told Self as both stood on the banquet podium that the Illini players want him to stay.

"You came in and started something special, and we love you, man," Cook said.

The University of Illinois apparently loves Self, too. The school rewarded him with a contract extension that will pay him $5 million if he stays all five years.

Whoever gets the Kansas coaching job will have a tough act to follow.

Williams leaves a 15-year legacy that includes five seasons of 30 wins or more, nine conference championships, 14 straight NCAA tournaments and four Final Four appearances.

Self is popular at Illinois, winning the hearts of Illini fans with his 78-24 record in three seasons and with his easygoing, friendly manner.

On his way into the banquet hall Tuesday, Self walked through a line of about 100 members of the school's Orange Krush student fan club, who chanted, "We want Bill Self."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.