Bill Self’s health: Norm Roberts updates status as Kansas prepares for Howard

Bill Self is not certain to coach on Thursday as Kansas opens the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed against No. 16 Howard.

Acting coach Norm Roberts, who led the Jayhawks last week at the Big 12 Tournament in place of the hospitalized Self, said on Wednesday, “He’s doing well, was at practice today … getting better all the time. We’re hopeful. It’s day to day.”

Self was discharged from a Kansas City-area hospital Sunday after he had a procedure to treat blocked arteries in his heart, and the Hall of Famer was expected to rejoin the Jayhawks for the defense of their NCAA championship this week.

Roberts explained that Self didn’t travel on the team bus, but joined the Jayhawks after he traveled to Des Moines by car. While Self is day to day, Roberts said the program is hopeful that Self will coach against Howard.

Norm said at podium the team is hopeful Bill Self will coach Thurs. He said Self got after the team pretty well at. practice today. … Norm said Self is getting his rest, that’s why he isn’t doing media today. “He’s doing good though,” Norm said, indicating coach is day to day.

— Gary Bedore (@GaryBedore) March 15, 2023

The Jayhawks are in Des Moines! No Bill Self with the team at this time, assistant coach Norm Roberts said he’s day to day and traveling to DSM by car as he continues to recover from last week’s procedure pic.twitter.com/JenZgnL5ww

— Matt Henderson (@KWCHMatt) March 14, 2023

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.