Bill Self, who led Kansas to a national title last season, will not attend his team’s quarterfinal matchup against West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday due to illness, according to a statement from the school.
The school statement did not disclose details of the illness but said Self is recovering.
Assistant Norm Roberts will serve as interim coach.
“He himself is doing well at the University of Kansas Health System and is receiving very good care,” the statement said.
Self was present for the shoot-around at the T-Mobile Center on Wednesday and appeared to be in normal condition. He met with reporters outside the locker room for about 20 minutes and said his team was ready for another March run.
“We’ve talked about going to Kansas City to try to position ourselves to win this thing, but knowing that we take it one game at a time,” he said on Wednesday. ” “I put an emphasis on playing my best. What the [Big 12] tournament does can validate what your regular season has been. And this is an opportunity to validate that.”
Kansas, which has more Quad I wins than any other team in the nation, is positioned to likely secure the No. 1 overall seed on Selection Sunday. This would ensure a path to nearby Kansas City in the regionals in the first two rounds from Des Moines, Iowa, and then Houston for the Final Four if it advances.
Kansas has experienced without Self this season. He served a school-imposed four-game suspension in connection with an NCAA violation case earlier in the year and missed his team’s Champions Classic matchup against Duke. Kansas won that game 69–64.
This season, Self-led Kansas to his 17th Big 12 title during his tenure, which began in the 2003–04 season.