Kansas City, Mo. — Acting Kansas basketball coach Norm Roberts said after KU’s 76-56 loss to Texas in the Big 12 game that he thought Saturday’s game would be the Jayhawks’ last without head coach Bill Self.
“He’s doing well,” Roberts said of Self, who remained hospitalized at the University of Kansas Hospital on Saturday night. “We plan on him coaching next week.”
Added KU guard Joe Yesufu after Saturday’s loss: “I pray (he is). He’s a Hall of Fame coach and he’s needed.”
Self was admitted into the hospital late Wednesday night to undergo a “standard procedure that went well,” according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steve Stites.
Self remained in the hospital through the rest of the week and was in contact with his team and Roberts periodically. Roberts said outside of the locker room that he talked to Self prior to Saturday’s game with Texas but had yet to talk to him after the loss.
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Box score: Texas 76, Kansas 56
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Roberts reiterated that Self was “doing good,” and several Jayhawks said they believed the same to be true.
“Oh, yeah,” junior guard Joe Yesufu said Saturday night. “As soon as I heard his voice (on Friday), he was very upbeat. Just hearing his voice made me feel good, just knowing he’s OK and he will be OK. He’s going to be fine. He’s a tough man.”
Roberts said he was hopeful that Self would be able to join the team for the annual Selection Sunday watch party of CBS’s selection show at 5 p.m.
Roberts also said he would have to talk to Self to find out the plan for Sunday but that he anticipated given the Jayhawks some time to rest.
“We probably won’t do anything tomorrow (but) enjoy the selection show, find out where we’re going and who we’re playing and start breaking down tape,” Roberts said.
Added KU point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. of the idea of Self returning to the bench next week: “When coach Self gets back, we’ll have our head on our snake so we should be in pretty good shape. I know he’ll get us together and get us right for March Madness.”
With 17 Quad 1 wins and an overall resumé that’s as strong and stacked as any in recent NCAA history, many have wondered if the Jayhawks wrapped up the No. 1 overall seed in next week’s NCAA Tournament well before Saturday.
Asked this week if he believed KU had already wrapped up the top dog distinction, acting KU coach Norm Roberts laughed it off.
“I have no idea,” Roberts said. “We’re not worried about that. We’re worried about winning the game and who we play next. You can’t worry about that (other stuff). When you get in the tournament, everybody is good. Every team is a champion. You have to be ready to play, so doesn’t matter where you’re at.”
On Saturday night, even after the loss to Texas, Roberts said he still felt KU’s resumé was worthy of top billing.
“I’d put it up against anybody,” he said. “We’ve got, what, 17 Quad 1 wins and I know people will say that’s because of the teams in (our) conference, but we had to beat them. And we did.”
If the Jayhawks are announced as the No. 1 overall seed during Sunday’s selection show on CBS, their potential path to the Final Four will include the very building they played in this week.
Teams in the mix for the top seed are asked to put in their request for their region of choice a few weeks before the bracket is revealed. KU requested Kansas City, Missouri, which will host Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at T-Mobile Center on Friday, March 24 and Sunday, March 26.
The Jayhawks are 48-11 all-time at T-Mobile Center (formerly known as Sprint Center) and 235-85 all-time in games played in Kansas City, between Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena and T-Mobile Center.
The Jayhawks have made two appearances at the venue in the NCAA Tournament, winning first- and second-round games in 2013 and falling to Oregon in the Elite Eight in 2017.
Midwest region or not, the Jayhawks are ready to see their road and get the games started.
“I’m not really worried about it,” said junior forward Jalen Wilson of the top overall seed. “If they do give it to us, great. But we’ll still be a 1 seed, I’m assuming, and it’s still basketball. No matter where we’re playing, it wouldn’t get any easier here. You got to show up and play and I’m just ready to get to it.”
Added Harris, when asked if he thought Saturday’s loss would negatively affect the Jayhawks’ seed: “I really don’t know. I don’t think it will. I don’t know. Hopefully we still get the Midwest, but either region we go to we’re going to try to fight and try to have a great run.”
One hundred and 48 days after visiting Lawrence for Late Night in the Phog, Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal was back watching the Jayhawks in action on Saturday night at T-Mobile Center.
O’Neal, who was the featured performer at Late Night under his musical name, DJ Diesel, played a set across the street at Kansas City’s Power & Light District following Saturday’s championship game.
O’Neal began composing rap music in 1993. In addition to his Hall of Fame basketball career, during which he won four NBA titles and MVP honors in 2000, O’Neal has been featured in movies, on television, in video games and more.
Another well-known musical artist also made an appearance at the Big 12 title game on Saturday. Jordin Sparks, of Ameri-can Idol fame, sang the National Anthem before Saturday’s game.
Saturday’s loss gave Texas the season series against the Jayhawks, with UT losing in Lawrence in February and winning two games in an eight-day span in March… KU is now 12-4 in Big 12 title games… The loss dropped the Jayhawks to 5-2 in neutral site games this season and 82-29 all-time in league tournament play. That includes a 52-13 mark in the Big 12 tournament… Wilson’s 24 points on Saturday gave him 1,435 for his Kansas career and moved him into 27th place, ahead of KU legend Wilt Chamberlain, who finished his shorter KU career with 1,433 points… Wilson and Harris were two of the six players named to this week’s Big 12 all-tournament team.