It is difficult to repeat as a Champion in the men’s NCAA tournament. It’s harder when your head coach isn’t there. University of Kansas Men’s Basketball head coach Bill Self spoke to the media for the first time since his squad exited the first weekend of college basketball’s biggest tournament, and since he left the team due to concerns over health. Despite the rumors, Self played down any notion that he might retire from his role as head coach. Despite blowing a halftime lead against Arkansas in the Round of 32, the Razorbacks would go on to win 72-71 against Kansas, making the Jayhawks the sixth straight national title winner to be eliminated in the first two rounds of the Big Dance. Self missed not only the NCAA Tournament but the Big 12 Championship tournament due to health concerns. He missed both events after checking himself into Kansas City’s KU Medical Center for a heart procedure. Self-reportedly came to the hospital complaining of chest tightness and balance concerns. It is now known that the future Hall of Fame coach reportedly had two stents placed to treat several blocked arteries. The university has been remarkably vague about the coach’s health status outside of assuring the public that he is improving. Despite promises that he would return to coach the team in the tournament, that moment never came. Norm Roberts, Self’s assistant who led the team with a university-imposed suspension at the start of the season, took over in Self’s absence. In that framework, the head coach was meeting with the media on Wednesday. The lack of transparency from KU, as well as the team’s early exit from the NCAA tournament, led to an abundance of rumors online about Self’s potential retirement. KU maintained that the head coach’s press conference was nothing more than a 2022-2023 season wrap-up. Since the season ended, senior All-American and Big 12 player of the year Jalen Wilson confirmed he will not return to the team in 2023 Freshman Gradey Dick, who played for Collegiate and Sunrise Academy in Witchita, is announced his entry into the NBA draft.
It is difficult to repeat as Champion in the men’s NCAA tournament.
It’s even harder without your head coach.
University of Kansas Men’s Basketball head coach Bill Self spoke to the media for the first time since his squad exited the first weekend of college basketball’s biggest tournament, and since he left the team due to concerns over health.
Despite the rumors, Self played down any notion that he might retire from his role as head coach.
Despite blowing a halftime lead against Arkansas in the Round of 32, the Razorbacks would go on to win 72-71 against Kansas, making the Jayhawks the sixth straight national title winner to be eliminated in the first two rounds of the Big Dance.
It didn’t help that Self missed not only the NCAA Tournament but also the Big 12 Championship tournament due to health concerns.
He missed both events after checking himself into Kansas City’s KU Medical Center for a heart procedure. Self-reportedly came to the hospital complaining of chest tightness and balance concerns. It is now known that the future Hall of Fame coach reportedly had two stents placed to treat several blocked arteries.
The university has been remarkably vague about the coach’s health status outside of assuring the public that he is improving. Despite promises that he would return to coach the team in the tournament, that moment never came.
Norm Roberts, Self’s assistant who led the team with a university-imposed suspension at the start of the season, took over in Self’s absence.
In that framework, the head coach was meeting with the media on Wednesday. The lack of transparency from KU, as well as the team’s early exit from the NCAA tournament, led to an abundance of rumors online about Self’s potential retirement.
KU maintained that the head coach’s press conference was nothing more than a 2022-2023 season wrap-up.
Since the season ended, senior All-American and Big 12 player of the year Jalen Wilson has confirmed he will not return to the team in 2023. Freshman Gradey Dick, who played for Collegiate and Sunrise Academy in Witchita, has announced his entry into the NBA draft.