Bill Self to miss Kansas NCAA game vs. Arkansas – KGET 17

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Bill Self will miss Kansas City’s second-round NCAA Tournament game against Arkansas on Saturday, the school announced.

Self, who is recovering from heart surgery earlier this month, has been with his team since arriving in Des Moines, attending meetings and practices.

Self declined to comment Friday when passed by reporters after practice, but said in a radio interview before the Jayhawks’ first-round win over Howard that he’s feeling better and getting stronger — just that he’s not ready to be benched for a game.

Norm Roberts, Self’s longtime assistant, will serve as the acting coach in Game 5.

Self went to the emergency room the night of March 8, not long after watching the Jayhawks hold their final shootaround ahead of the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament. He complained of chest tightness and balance concerns, and the 60-year-old had two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries.

Kansas is 3-1 in Self’s absence, with the loss coming against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament championship game.

The 57-year-old Roberts is Self’s right-hand man, having been on Self’s staff for four coaching stops.

“We’ve been together almost 25 years, so we probably finish each other’s sentences in basketball terms,” ​​Roberts said Friday.

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