Bill Self says he’s not quite ‘at the point’ where he can coach Jayhawks during game
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said Thursday “he’s feeling stronger and everything” from last week’s heart catheterization but did not feel he was quite ready to coach the Jayhawks’ NCAA opener against Howard (1 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines).
He was speaking on the pregame radio show with Brian Hanni. Self was to watch the game at the team hotel.
“I’m doing better. I’m feeling stronger and everything. I’m not going to coach today,” Self said on the pregame show. “I don’t think I’m at the point where I can be very good for our team if I was out there. I’ve been at practice every day, sitting and watching practice more so than actually on the court participating in a big way.
“Everything is moving in a positive direction. It’s just taking longer than what I had hoped it would to get me back to the point where I can be out there every day. If we are able to do some good things today, then hopefully Saturday will be a different story in that regard.”
If KU beats Howard on Thursday it would meet Illinois or Arkansas on Saturday.
Self said to Greg Gurley in an ESPN+ interview: “I am feeling much better. I’ve got more energy. I’ve been with the team all week on a limited basis. Practice ... I’m there every day. I’m doing a lot of sitting at practice, which is different. I am not ready to coach the game. Norm (Roberts) is going to handle all the stuff, same way he did for the first four games of the season and at the Big 12 Tournament. I’m getting better every day. Hopefully over the next 48 hours if things go well I can progress to the point to be out there full time.”
Self told Hanni: “I’m watching as much tape as I ever have. Norm and the staff are doing their normal great job. Norm did a great job at the Big 12 Tournament we just got tired against Texas (losing final). Not an excuse, but that was a tired team — when you don’t play many reserves and are dealing with depth issues. Guys needed a couple days to get their legs under then. Fortunately this has been a good week to do that. The guys seem locked in.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2023 at 12:51 PM.
