It’s hard to repeat as an NCAA Men’s Championship champion, and it’s even harder when you don’t have a head coach. University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self spoke to the media for the first time since his team’s exit in the first weekend of college basketball’s biggest tournament, and since he stepped away from the team due to health concerns. Despite the rumors, Self dissuaded any notion that he might retire as head coach. Despite leading at halftime against Arkansas in the Round of 32, the Razorbacks would go on to win 72-71 over 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 the Big 12 Tournament as well due to health concerns. He missed both events after checking himself into KU Medical Center in Kansas City for heart surgery. He reportedly arrived at the hospital complaining of chest tightness and balance concerns. The future Hall of Fame coach is now known to have placed two stents to treat several blocked arteries, and the university has been particularly vague about the coach’s health beyond reassuring the public that he is getting better. Despite promises that he would return to coach the team at the tournament, that moment never came. Norm Roberts, Self’s assistant who led the team with the suspension imposed by the university at the beginning of the season, took charge in Self’s absence, and in this context, the coach meets with the media on Wednesday. A lack of transparency from KU, as well as the team’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament, led to rumors abounding online about Self’s potential retirement. KU confirmed that the head coach’s press conference is nothing more than a conclusion to the 2022-2023 season. Since the season ended, All-American and Big 12 MVP Jalen Wilson has confirmed that he will not return to the team in 2023. Freshman Grady Dick, who played for the Academy, announced Collegiate and Sunrise at Wichita, entering the NBA Draft.
It’s tough to repeat as an NCAA Men’s Tournament champion.
It’s even more difficult when you don’t have a head coach.
University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self spoke to the media for the first time since his team’s exit in the first weekend of college basketball’s biggest tournament, and since he stepped away from the team due to health concerns.
Despite the rumors, Self dissuaded any notion that he might retire as head coach.
Despite taking a halftime lead against Arkansas in the Round of 32, the Razorbacks would go on to win 72-71 over Kansas, making the Jayhawks the sixth straight national title winner to be eliminated in the first two innings of the Big Dance.
It didn’t help that Self missed not only the NCAA Tournament but the Big 12 Tournament as well due to health concerns.
He missed both events after checking himself into KU Medical Center in Kansas City for heart surgery. He reportedly arrived at the hospital complaining of chest tightness and balance concerns. The future Hall of Fame coach is now known to have placed two stents to treat multiple blocked arteries.
The university has been notably vague about the coach’s health outside of reassuring the public that he is getting better. Despite promises that he would return to coach the team at the tournament, that moment never came.
Norm Roberts, Self’s assistant who captained the team with a university-imposed suspension at the start of the season, took over in Self’s absence.
With that framework, the coach will meet with the media on Wednesday. A lack of transparency from KU, as well as the team’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament, led to rumors abounding online about Self’s potential retirement.
Kuwait University confirmed that the head coach’s press conference is nothing more than a conclusion to the 2022-2023 season.
Since the season ended, All-American and 12-time All-American player of the year, Jalen Wilson, has confirmed that he will not return to the team in 2023.
“Student. Incurable problem solver. Amateur baconaholic. Introvert. Infuriatingly humble music fanatic.”