Bill Self says he is feeling 'much better' after heart procedure, will continue resting

After being hospitalized due to a disclosed illness and undergoing a medical procedure, Kansas head coach Bill Self is beginning to feel like himself again. Self missed the team’s Big 12 Tournament run, but ahead of their first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament, he gave an update.

“I’m feeling much better,” Self said. “I’ve got more energy, I’ve been with the team all week on a limited basis in practice. But I’m there every day, I’m doing a lot of sitting in practice, I’ve never really done that but I’m getting better at that I guess.”

Self still will not coach in the team’s first round matchup versus No. 16 seed Howard, as interim head coach Norm Roberts will continue to man the ship in Self’s absence.

“I feel better but still I’m not ready to coach the game,” Self said. “Norm’s gonna handle all the stuff the same way he handled the first four games of the season and the Big 12 Tournament, which we started out 6-0, so very confident with that.”

It’s still unclear when Self will be able to return to the Jayhawk’s sideline as their head coach, but it may be sooner than later depending on his progress this weekend.

“But I’m getting better every day and hopefully over the next 48 hours if things go well today I can progress to the point where hopefully I can be out there the full time,” Self said.

The Jayhawks have already tipped off against Howard in first round tournament matchup airing on TBS.

Self’s observations from afar

Self also gave his insight on the performance of his team during the Big 12 Tournament during his absence.

“I thought we were really efficient in the tournament, Big 12 Tournament, we did a lot of good things then we ran into a buzz saw on Saturday,” Self admitted. “And I think it was because multiple reasons, one they were better us, Texas was better than us. And two we were a tired team out there playing and we just didn’t have the it from an energy standpoint.”

The Jayhawks started the tournament off hot, with back-to-back double-digit wins in their quarterfinal and semifinal matchups. But fell to Texas for a second straight time, losing to the Longhorns 76-57 in the Big 12 Championship game.

“We played tired and when you play tired you make more mental mistakes and shots are short and things like that, I think that was pretty evident,” Self said. “But I think the first two nights we played very well.”