Bill Self says first game back from suspension 'felt great'

Bill Self was on the Kansas sideline for the first time this season, leading the Jayhawks to an 80-74 victory over NC State in their opening matchup of the 2022 Battle 4 Atlantis. Self missed the first four games of the Jayhawks after a self-imposed suspension stemming from recruiting violations.

After the game, Self discussed his return and what it meant for him to get out there and coach this group of players for the first time.

“It felt great to be out there. I was excited. I’m excited about being here, and it was good,” Self said. “Usually at seven o’clock, when we had wake up call this morning, I usually don’t jump out of bed. But I kind of did today because I was excited about what was getting ready to happen.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Earning the victory wasn’t easy, and the Wolfpack stayed neck-and-neck with the defending national champions through the final buzzer.

With the win, Kansas improves to 5-0 on the young season. They’ll be in action once again tomorrow as their Battle 4 Atlantis slate continues, this time against the also-undefeated Wisconsin Badgers. The game will air on ESPN and will be the first game of the day, tipping off at 10:00 a.m. CT in the Bahamas.

More on Kansas’ self-imposed sanctions

Kansas has also self-imposed recruiting restrictions on itself. That started this past year when Self and Townsend took themselves off the recruiting trail for four months from April through July 2022. The Jayhawks took away four official visits during this (and next) academic year, and will lose three available scholarships in men’s basketball over the next three years.

Kansas will implement a six-week ban on recruiting communications, a six-week ban on unofficial visits and a thirteen-day reduction in the number of permissible recruiting days during the 2022-23 calendar year.

“Coach Townsend and I accept and support KU’s decision to self-impose these sanctions,” Self said in a statement at the time. “We are in good hands with Coach Roberts, and I am confident that he will do a great job on the bench leading our team. I am proud of the way our guys have handled this situation and I look forward to returning to the bench for our game against NC State.”

Kansas was charged with five Level I NCAA violations amid the FBI’s investigation into college basketball back in 2017.  Among the charges were a lack of institutional control and a head coach responsibility charge against Self after it was found payments were made by Adidas to several Kansas players at the time.