Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kansas opens the Big 12 tournament on Thursday in Kansas City without coach Bill Self.

The university said in a statement Self, 60, will miss the game as he recovers from an unspecified illness.

"Assistant coach Norm Roberts will serve as the acting head coach. Self is doing well and receiving great care at the University of Kansas Health System," the statement continued.

Kansas (25-6) enters the 2023 Big 12 Championship as the No. 1 seed and faces No. 8 seed West Virginia (19-13) on Thursday afternoon.The Jayhawks, who are ranked third in the AP Top 25 poll, won the Big 12 regular-season title with a 13-5 conference record.

Roberts ran the show from the sideline to begin the season in November with Self serving a four-game suspension.

The Jayhawks went 4-0, including a neutral court win over Duke in Indianapolis.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Twins reliever shut down for six weeks with patellar tendon tear
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Timberwolves starter ruled out for Game 5 vs. Nuggets
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Astros starter ejected after foreign substance inspection
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish
Yankees young stud takes major step in return from injury
See top groupings for Rounds 1 and 2 at 2024 PGA Championship
Former Bruins winger dead at 75
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Super Bowl-winning safety plans to retire after 2024 season
Canucks' Nikita Zadorov takes a shot at NHL over teammate's suspension
Sports radio star Doug Gottlieb to coach college hoops while staying on the air
NFL scores big win in legal battle with ex-Raiders head coach
Astros 3B breaks out of slump in contract year
Cardinals sign second-round CB
Micah Parsons makes history with new Bleacher Report deal