Former KU basketball assistant Norm Roberts gives his take on Bill Self’s future
Former Kansas men’s basketball assistant Norm Roberts, who worked on Bill Self’s coaching staff for 22 seasons at four different schools, says he has no inside knowledge on the future plans of one of his best friends.
“I really don’t have a gut feeling,” the 60-year-old Roberts said of 63-year-old Self, who said after Sunday’s 67-65 season-ending loss to St. John’s he was undecided if he’d return for a 24th season at KU.
“I think it’s more he has to do what he thinks is best for him and his family. You know, when I retired last year, I did the same,” added Roberts, who announced his retirement last May after working for Self 14 seasons in Lawrence and 37 years total in the coaching business.
“Coach (Self) has been so successful. He’s done so many great things for KU, but he has to make sure he makes the right decision for him and his family,” Roberts continued. “That could be coaching for five more years. That may be the right decision. I don’t know. He hasn’t discussed that.”
Self said Sunday he’d return to Lawrence and assess his health situation — he’s had some heart problems since the fall of 2022 — and gain input from his loved ones before finalizing plans for the 2026-27 season.
“Coach does the same thing every year. He evaluates the season, how everything went, and then he gets back (to Lawrence) and then they recruit after that. So I don’t think this is anything different than he’s done every single year,” Roberts said of Self, who was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
“I do think obviously, because of the health issues that he’s had, that’s another variable that’s involved in the decision-making and everything. But I think this is what he does every year. He goes back and looks at the season, sees how they can get better and what they can do to get better. So I don’t think it’s any different, but obviously the health concerns are (different) and that’s a new variable.”
Roberts said Self has appeared to be in great physical condition.
“He told me he was feeling well. He told me it’s the best he has felt in a while, that he was feeling good and everything,” Roberts stated.
That’s also what Self told the media after the loss to St. John’s.
“I don’t know if I’m qualified to say they (fans) have to worry (about Self leaving). First and foremost, he has to do what’s best for him and his family. Then obviously he’s going to do what’s best for the program. But at the end of the year there’s always self evaluation,” Roberts stated.
Self likely will announce his future plans soon considering the transfer portal for men’s basketball opens April 7. Also, top recruit Tyran Stokes, a McDonald’s All-American, is in the midst of deciding between KU, Oregon and Kentucky.
Roberts said the fact Self may have to rebuild his KU roster through the portal once again — after all the returning players decide if they are staying or leaving — likely would not be a factor in Self’s decision making process.
“I think all coaches care about it, but it’s part of the business,” Roberts said of roster instability caused by NIL and the transfer portal. “It is what it is now, and that’s the landscape that we’re all dealing with right now. He understands that and embraces that. So, I don’t think it’s anything different than it’s been over the last few years.”
Roberts since retiring from basketball coaching has been a college hoops studio analyst for ESPN and also been a regular on The Field of 68 podcast.
“The last thing I did for ESPN was the Big 12 Tournament,” Roberts said, noting he had no assignments for the NCAA Tournament. “I’ve had fun doing this. You get to work with some really good people that can make you look good. They are great people to work with, both ESPN and Field of 68.”
He added he’d like to continue in broadcasting during the 2026-27 season.
“I hope I still get an opportunity to do it,” he continued. “It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. I think hopefully I can get better at it and everything. I love talking ball. I love being around basketball. I like being in that arena. So I hope I can.”
Roberts — he lived in Lawrence with his wife this past season — said a move to Florida is in the works. He attended “six or seven” KU games this past season and “10 or 12” practices.
“I’m just sitting there observing, enjoying the practice, the coaching and that stuff. I’m just there to watch and then, obviously, see the guys, see the coaches,” Roberts said.
He watched the KU-St. John’s game in Florida.
“Obviously, I was disappointed,” Roberts said of his reaction when Dylan Darling cashed a driving layup at the buzzer for the two-point win.
“I think people look at things and they think it’s a lot easier than what it really is when you’re on the court. Give the kid, Darling, a lot of credit. He made a quick move, a decisive move. He’s fast and he drove it,” Roberts said. “Elmarko (Jackson) was guarding him, trying to stay in front of him but trying to make sure he doesn’t foul. And then (Jackson) forced him to his weak hand, and the kid made an incredible shot. He made an incredible shot.
“One thing coach would always say: ‘The season is going to come down to one possession. It always does — one possession, good or bad. If it works out for you, great. If it doesn’t, your season is over,’ and that’s what happened on that play, because they (Red Storm) did a great job. I thought they (Jayhawks) did a great job fighting back (from 14-point deficit). They tied the game up.”
Roberts said he thought “there were a lot of positives” during KU’s 24-11 season, including the development of sophomore forward Flory Bidunga and contributions of freshman forward Bryson Tiller. He also mentioned the emergence of Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White as productive players/key starters.
“I know it didn’t end the way everybody would like it to end,” Roberts said, “but it’s only going to end great for one team. There’s only one team that’s going to be happy at the very end. That’s just how college basketball is and always has been.”
Of freshman Darryn Peterson’s season, Roberts said: “Hes a tremendous talent. He’s going to be a tremendous NBA player. He can score from all three levels. He can create. He can do a lot of different things. It’s just unfortunate that those things happen and he had some injuries. But you know, I think he’s got a tremendous future.”
Roberts will pay attention to the rest of the tournament. He was head coach at St. John’s six seasons.
“Obviously I wanted KU to win without a doubt and everything, but Zuby (Ejiofor, former KU forward now at St. John’s) is a kid that we’ve known for years. We’re happy for Zuby. He’s had a terrific career, done some great things,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of people back at St John’s that I still know and I’m happy for them. They’re going to have a great opportunity. I know coach Pitino (Rick, St. John’s). He’s a terrific coach, a good person. So I’m happy for those guys. But just as I’m happy for Iowa State moving on, just as I’m happy for Arizona moving on and everything, UConn. I know people at all those stops.
“I know how hard it is to get to that point, to get to the Sweet 16. I know how hard it is to move on. It’s not easy. You’ve got to have things fall your way. You’ve got to have good things happen. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t.”
