Bill Self expected to return to Jayhawks' bench for NCAA Tournament

After a medical scare which forced him to leave the team earlier this week, longtime Kansas head coach Bill Self appears ready to return to help lead a potential Jayhawks' run in this year's NCAA Tournament. 

Following Saturday's Big 12 Tournament Championship game loss to Texas, Kansas assistant and interim head coach Norm Roberts provided an update on Self's status.

"He's doing well," Roberts said via 'The Kansas City Star.' "We plan on him coaching next week." 

While there were early rumors floated that Self had suffered a heart attack after he checked into the emergency room at the University of Kansas Health System on Wednesday, the Kansas program clarified on Friday that the 60-year-old had instead undergone a "standard procedure" and would remain away from the team for the remainder of the Big 12 tournament. 

Without Self, the Jayhawks went 1-1 in tournament play, defeating Iowa State on Friday before falling to Texas by a 76-56 score in the tournament finals Saturday. Despite their lopsided loss to the Longhorns, the 27-7 Jayhawks should be considered almost a shoo-in for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament upcoming. 

Kansas will find out its exact placement and potential path to glory on "Selection Sunday." When asked if Self could rejoin the team for the seeding announcement, Roberts said, "I would hope so."

Self has patrolled the sidelines for Kansas since 2003, leading the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament in each of his 20 seasons as coach and winning it all in 2008 and 2022.