🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Coach Self was hospitalized today. Here’s the full statement from KU Athletics: “Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms Thursday. He was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he had two stents inserted. The procedure went very well, and he is expected to make a full recovery. He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.

Not a good way to start the sports year friends, his health continues to become a major issue. Hopefully he can coach this season and end a great career on a high note. But this just confirms the clock is definitely ticking on his career.

He was out golfing at least according to local gossip

That is exactly why I don’t golf!

Glad we have Vaughn now. Fully expecting him to coach at least one game this season.

Ugh. Poor Bill. Head to the coast, man. Chill on your boat. Take it easy. The last thing anybody wants to happen is a mid game issue like this.

Hate to see him suffering.

Watching TBT did him in!

Great Coach. Nothing we as fans can do, Coach just needs rest and plenty of it. I've thought for a long time this would be it, This kind of a job is really stressful, going to say prayers for Coach, His health is the only thing important as of now.

I'm still not convinced 1000 % Jacque WILL be the next Coach- -let's all wish the best for Coach

I hope Coach is healthy enough to coach however he wants. I am concerned about the number of fans who just want to hand Jacque the keys and not do a real search.

Last time did coach have a heart attack too? It’s been super humid around here too!

Some people talking to him like maybe it's time to hang it up? I haven't heard that, just speculating.

I think the serious question is how the hell did the medical professionals not see this potential issue when he had his previous episode? Surely they did scans and tests for blockage? Shaking my head right now.

@rockchalkjayhawk it was several years ago. Blockages develop over time. We don’t know how often Self goes to a cardiologist to get checked. For all we know last time he went everything was fine.

@rockchalkjayhawk said in Bill Self back in the hospital 😳:

I think the serious question is how the hell did the medical professionals not see this potential issue when he had his previous episode? Surely they did scans and tests for blockage? Shaking my head right now.

There is a gross amount of incompetence in the medical field. After watching two people I’m close with get poked and prodded for the last year with no diagnosis, I figure anything they figure out is just dumb luck or very common. Anything unusual and you had just better dig your dying hole.

@dylans You have to dig your own dying hole? I never knew that. I better get busy.

@dylans for sure it has taken years of tests to get absolutely nowhere on my wife. After thousands in bills they think she may have some form of arthritis. The healthcare in this country is a total joke and scam to make billions of dollars. I don’t go to the doctor very often. Big pharmaceutical companies fund most medical schools in this country. They don’t want to fix a damn thing just want to add prescriptions and get kick backs. Insurance is a total joke all around as well.

@FarmerJayhawk said in Bill Self back in the hospital 😳:

I hope Coach is healthy enough to coach however he wants. I am concerned about the number of fans who just want to hand Jacque the keys and not do a real search.

I love Jacque but idk if he’s ready yet. I keep hearing rumors this is Selfs last season come hell or high water.

This procedure is common with men his age. I’m not jumping on the bandwagon his days are much shorter at the helm now.

I agree with FarmerJayhawk about Jacque , that's what I was saying earlier and I'm just not lock stone convinced that like some think IF Coach can't continue that they are automatically turning it over to Jacque.

I also think there are other people that have the question but might just not know how to phrase the question without seeming dis-respectful but the question remains , I like all others respect the Hell out of Coach Self and the things he has done for the University of Kansas that can never be repeated and sure hope Coach recovers and has a long life still to go. Yet the question I think others ae thinking also and that is IF Coach Self doesn't come back THIS year , his Doctors tell him he needs to maybe time to hang it up and take care of himself would be in his best interest then -- - - - - - what happens to the current roster ? -Would it be possible some of the roster ask for a release or transfwe, People have to realize kids commit to play for a particular Coach not the University, these kids want to play for Self Could some want out now IF he didn't come back this year, the one I think of most might be Kohl- - just wondering if that could happen

We've already had an episode where the assistant coach had to take over for Coach Self for health reasons. And it happened during the tournament, not that long ago.

A hypothetical: recollect to that time and imagine if the team goes on a tear and ends with a championship with the assistant at the helm and Self then announces retirement.

How would things go? The assistant would certainly have a strong case at that point. I do think there would be a search, but I think it would be a more of a ceremonial search rather than the thorough approach we've had previously. Not saying it's right or wrong -- but that seem's pretty plausible. I also feel like there's a difference between imagining this scenario with KT finishing the season with hardware vs Jacque Vaughn finishing the season with hardware -- it feels like when I imagine this with JV it's easier to see the job being handed over rather than if it was KT. That's just me and it's clearly and completely infused with nostalgic subjectivity.

Of course, this is a pretty extreme hypothetical. So take the hypothetical down a notch, where the team finishes short of the championship -- they get to the final four and lose.. or they get to the Sweet 16, then lose. Etc.. Now how does the search go?

In my opinion, there's less scrutiny as the team advances, and more scrutiny the shorter the run.

Let’s just hope he can do a victory lap this year. But I don’t want to see the guy die on the sidelines here.

He’s somehow arguably the most successful coach in KU Basketball history. No shame in walking away at this point.

@Kcmatt7 said in Bill Self back in the hospital 😳:

Let’s just hope he can do a victory lap this year. But I don’t want to see the guy die on the sidelines here.

He’s somehow arguably the most successful coach in KU Basketball history. No shame in walking away at this point.

💯

People... stents are common. I know many who have them for more than a decade.

@drgnslayr Understand that but people looking at both sides of the fence which is only logical. Common or not this is nothing to mess around with. The poor guy has some major health issues and this job stressful as it is I guarantee you that he has had some medical people tell him that it might be a god time to call it a day.

He has already said previously that he didn't winna Coach many more years , he wanted to be able to enjoy his time with his Wife and enjoy his Gran Kids. This just might be the final straw for him to back away.

However I do think he will try for this year because of Darryn at least

@SlimShaddy54 absolutely correct!

@drgnslayr My dad had a quadruple bypass at 53 y/o and lived to 81 y/o after more heart caths and additional stents than I can remember. A lot of heart attacks occur in patients that do not have much blockage on a cardiac cath. If a newer plaque should sheer off then it will travel until it is either burned up like a meteor in the earth’s atmosphere or until its gets wedged into an artery that gets progressively smaller so that oxygen and nutrients can be exchanged in capillaries.

As far as kickbacks for health care providers (HCP), it is illegal. If a HCP is found to have kickbacks, then they get to suffer a huge fine and the embarrassment in the local news and the HCP community. They tend to become a pariah that have to go out on their own if they continue to practice because no one wants to associate with them. Lastly, there is the Sunshine Act that anyone can look up to see if a healthcare provider has received anything from pharmaceutical companies or medical equipment companies and how much to see if they are being influenced or an advocate for those same companies.

@drgnslayr The more stents you have, the higher the risk of more complicated health risks occurring becomes and Self is up 3 now I believe.

Bringing in Vaughn now could be a program saving move because there is an increased chance Self doesn't make through the season now and having a coach of Vaughn's level on staff is going to be a big help for the program of that situation plays out.

@drgnslayr said in Bill Self back in the hospital 😳:

People... stents are common. I know many who have them for more than a decade.

It's his 2nd heart-related issue in a few years. He's 62. I just don't think its worth it. There isn't much more he can gain by continuing to coach from a legacy perspective.

@bskeet KT is Self's right hand man, but he's not a good enough head coach to take over this program. If he was viewed in that light, he would've been the one running things in 2022-23 instead of Norm.

Bringing in Vaughn is very much a head coach in waiting type move because he could absolutely go get an NBA assistant position if he wanted. He doesn't come back to KU as an assistant coaches unless there's basically a handshake agreement that he's going to be KU's 9th head coach. I'm sure if this is the case, this word will be going around recruiting circles as well to help minimize the chances of KU's 2026 class bombing because we are in one some very good players with a real chance to land a couple of them.

KU is going to have a lot of roster turnover again next year. Best case scenario, KU loses 4 to graduation and the NBA. Potentially, KU could lose up to 7 to graduation and the NBA. I think the number may well end up being 5.

Any thoughts on Vaughn’s ability to recruit? Has he been involved in recent signings?

I wouldn't expect the next coach at KU to be without a GM who does a lot of the recruiting negotiating on his behalf.

@Kcmatt7 said in Bill Self back in the hospital 😳:

I wouldn't expect the next coach at KU to be without a GM who does a lot of the recruiting negotiating on his behalf.

Recruiting is not the role of a GM at the college level. GM's handle the business side of NIL for programs that have them, they aren't out on the road scouting and identifying talent.

This is Rachel Baker's (Duke GM) job description: In this exclusive position, Baker will specialize in helping players enhance their personal and professional skill sets, capitalize on strategic partnerships, including NIL opportunities, and work to support players in navigating the opportunities and challenges that come with being a student-athlete at the highest level.

That's her job description straight from Duke's website

The summarized version is essentially to oversee the non-basketball aspects of the program, primarily focusing on player development, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities, and strategic partnerships. This allows the head coach and assistant coaches to concentrate on coaching and game strategy.

Lexi Price does handle some of those responsibilities for KU as the Director of Basketball Ops for KU. Here's her job description as listed on KU's website: In her role, Price will continue her current responsibilities with the day-to-day operations of the KU program, in addition to managing student-athlete enrollment, housing, team travel, and coordinating camps and clinics. What's missing from her role is the NIL/business side of the job which we'll see what happens as the year progresses if she takes on those responsibilities or not. If not, then the next coach will absolutely need to hire a business manager to for the program that's responsible for the NIL side of the job.

Recruiting still needs to be the responsibility of the coaching staff and not a "faceless" individual.

🐦 View Tweet?t=Hn3Tk0pZkrdGSaT1YkPx-g&s=19
He has been released from the hospital

I just returned to the states from a 3 week holiday. Flipped on YouTube and caught Andy Katz “The Sideline” and a 5-day old interview with Bill. I highly advise everyone catch this for a great update on Jayhawk basketball and also get a glimpse of Self right before he went down. He seemed very vibrant to me. Same with the the official KU pressie he gave at the same time. Bill had a sunburn! 😎

Wow Coach was just dismissed from the Hospital on Saturday and now on Monday there he is on Monday having lunch with what they arre saying has a really good chance to be the rated big msn on KU campus yesterday. Jayon Keita a class of 2027 visited Ku yesterda, considered the Top big from the class 2027 looking like going to reclassify to 2025

considered probably top big man for 2027 or 2026- - -they haven't ranked him yet but all say is for sure the Big man in class . Seven footer can cover a lot of ground a very , very elite rim protector has a right hook to Score, people believing in re-class . was at KU yester other schools Indiana , Duke , N Carolina , U Conn , Kentucky one sure way to tell the kid has the Goods and probably going to make a quick decision on where he will play in 2026 --oh ya averaged 4 blocks a game --elite.

Where do basketball addicts go for help? Bill take note.

Some good news on the Billy Eugene front 🐦 View Tweet?s=46&t=c0LiaNrxev6XfT7LIH8dAQ

@FarmerJayhawk That's really great news , and yet just because he has no restrictions doesn't mean he has to rush back at full throttle plus