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Roberts: ‘Hopeful’ Self readily available for KU opener
DES MOINES, Iowa– Coach Costs Self was not with the Kansas Jayhawks for Wednesday’s public practice and assistant Standard Roberts said Self’s availability to work Thursday’s NCAA tournament opener remained in question.
“We’re hopeful,”stated Roberts, who filled in for Self throughout the Jayhawks’ 3 Big 12 tournament games recently. “Everything is daily with him.”The Jayhawks, the No. 1 seed in the West Area, play No. 16 Howard to start their NCAA competition run.Roberts said
Self was at an earlier closed practice on Wednesday, as well as a Tuesday workout and all of the team’s current meetings. He stated Self skipped the NCAA’s typical day-before media obligations and public practice to catch up on his rest.
“He’s doing well today,”Roberts said. “He’s improving all the time.
“If you ask our men, he got after them pretty good today so he was doing really well.”Self missed the Big 12 competition after going to the healthcare facility suffering chest tightness and balance issues. He went through a heart catheterization and had actually 2 stents placed for the treatment of obstructed arteries and was discharged from the University of Kansas Health System on Sunday.
“He’s looking terrific, feeling terrific,”stated Jalen Wilson, Kansas’ prominent scorer. “We had the ability to speak to him at practice today and he’s thrilled. We’re all delighted. It’s excellent to have him back on the court with us, for him to be able to coach us and start tomorrow with a bang.
“We understand Coach’s function. He will be training. He’s doing whatever he’s been doing. He was down for awhile for the Huge 12 however he’s back, he’s stimulated and thrilled and all set to get this going once again.”Illinois coach Brad Underwood, a longtime buddy of Self’s, said it would not shock him to see Self coaching on Thursday.
“I understand what a rival he is,”said Underwood, who will lead the No. 9 seeded Illini versus No. 8 Arkansas on Thursday in Des Moines. “I also know how important it is for him to be here for his players and his coaches.
“He may not be one hundred percent, but I likewise know that there’s a lot of things out there that in regards to family, his team, staff that are actually essential, that he goes out there and performs the very best he can to try to help them. When Costs is on that sideline, he’s helping his team.”