Long-time Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self is nearing a return after missing the entire Big 12 Tournament.
The top-seeded Jayhawks were ultimately thwarted, 76-56, by the second-seeded Texas Longhorns in Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game.
Kansas, which was the Big 12 regular season champions, were without Self due to a medical issue earlier this week, as per the university, which said he “underwent a standard procedure that went well.”
The school said in a release Sunday night that Self was discharged from the hospital, has returned to his home in Lawrence, Kansas and is looking forward to rejoining the team this week.
“I’m so thankful for the amazing staff at the University of Kansas Health System for the excellent care I received,” Self said in a statement. “I am proud of our team and coaching staff for how they have handled this and am excited to be back with them as the best time of the season gets underway.”
The University of Kansas Health System released some details about the 60-year-old Self’s condition and the procedure he underwent.
“”He arrived at the emergency department Wednesday evening March 8, complaining of chest tightness and balance concerns,” the hospital said. “Clinical service chief for cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiologist Dr. Mark Wiley said coach Self underwent a standard heart catheterization and had two stents placed for the treatment of blocked arteries. Coach Self responded well to the procedure and is expected to make a full recovery.”
In the interim, the team had been led by top assistant and former St. John’s head coach Norm Roberts, who nearly led them to a title.
“He’s doing well. We plan on him coaching next week,” Roberts said of the six-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, according to the Kansas City Star.
Self, Roberts and the Jayhawks will await their March Madness fate with the rest of the country on Sunday at 6 p.m. Kansas is expected to again be one of the higher seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
The Jayhawks are the defending national champions and will be looking to become the first back-to-back NCAA men’s basketball tournament winners since the Florida Gators of 2006 and 2007.