Associated Press6:32 PM ET3 Minute Read
Bill Self said he’s doing well after a health crisis kept him from coaching Kansas in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments last month, and he reiterated Wednesday that he has no plans to leave the Jayhawks anytime soon to withdraw.
Self, 60, spoke to reporters for the first time since March 8 when he went to an emergency room after a final shooting for the conference tournament. Complaining of chest tightness and worries about his balance, he had two stents placed at the University of Kansas Health System to help treat clogged arteries.
“To be honest, I haven’t done much since the Big 12 tournament,” Self said. “But I train almost every day. I don’t know if you believe that: they told me that I need to improve my diet and exercise more.”
Self added: “But I’m fine. My energy level is probably back to where it was before the episode but I don’t think where it’s going I think. I think sometimes we don’t realize we’re not feeling good until we actually feel good and know the difference. And I’m feeling good again, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Longtime assistant Norm Roberts led the Jayhawks to the Big 12 title game, where they lost to Texas. Thanks to their Big 12 championship and strong regular-season schedule, they still earned a No. 1 spot for the NCAA tournament, easily beating Howard in the first round before losing a 72-71 nail biter to eighth-seeded Arkansas in second Round.
Self helped practice during the two NCAA tournament games, but chose not to coach on the day of the game.
“I was never afraid that I wouldn’t do well. But it was a different feeling,” he said. “I’m sure many have had it, but it was kind of an out-of-body experience where you really don’t know what’s going on. You have no control over what is going on. So it was something that I had never experienced before, but it never got to the point where I felt like I was in danger.”
Self admitted the health scare caused him to reevaluate his future in coaching.
“I think I’ve had a lot of things to think about over the past few weeks,” he said. “I can tell you one thing without question: I missed my job. I love my job and want to keep doing my job for a long time. That’s the positive.”
“Well,” Self said, “in order for me to be able to do that effectively, I think I need to wake up a little bit and maybe do some things, from a lifestyle standpoint, from a personal habit standpoint, that I feel very, very, very contradictory to.” my entire adult life. And I said that jokingly earlier, can you imagine a doctor telling you to lose weight, eat right and exercise? I’ve been told this for a long time, but I’m taking it seriously for probably the first time in my life.”
The Jayhawks, who are holding their graduation banquet on Thursday, will look very different next season.
Star freshman Gradey Dick has signed up for the NBA draft, All-American forward Jalen Wilson has also announced his intention to turn pro, and Kevin McCullar Jr. is expected to join them. The Jayhawks also let forwards MJ Rice and Zach Clemence, big man Cam Martin and guards Joseph Yesufu and Bobby Pettiford Jr. enter the transfer portal.
The Jayhawks have four senior freshmen next season, but Self acknowledged the need to edit the portal.
“We still have some work to do before we’re a top 10 team, but I’m really confident that within a few weeks everyone will be saying they should be ranked higher than a top 10 team,” said Self. “I have a feeling we’re on the verge of some good kids.”