Kansas tops West Virginia but will be without Coach Self for Big 12 tourney

Kansas basketball

In the quarterfinal matchup of the Big 12 Tournament, Kansas topped West Virginia 78-61 in a game where everyone contributed.

Jalen Wilson was the star of the show, as per usual. He scored 22 points and grabbed 11 boards in his 11th double-double this year. Shooting 9-17 from the field is extremely impressive for Wilson, who is often wildly inefficient.

Dajuan Harris was as effective as ever, contributing on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. He recorded five steals and eight assists in a typical masterclass for him.

Gradey Dick broke out of his minuscule scoring drought in this contest. He shot 4-7 from deep, 7-12 overall, and scored 18 points in the win.

Other players, such as KJ Adams, also scored in double figures. Joseph Yesufu drew the second start in his tenure at Kansas due to Kevin McCullar’s lingering back spasms, hitting on three of seven shot attempts.

Norm Roberts extended his winning streak as KU head coach to five in Bill Self’s absence. However, Coach Self will be missing from the sidelines for the semifinals and potential championship round.

Roberts is a seasoned coach who is well-liked by his players. Still, it is hard to match a Hall of Fame coach who has an argument to be the GOAT of his profession.

If he were to remain out to begin the NCAA Tournament, it would be a brutal blow to the Jayhawks.  However, if it only extends for the next two days, it will not affect them too much. There is no word on when the team expects him back, but reports should come out soon enough.

The semifinals will kick off tomorrow against Iowa State, who recently beat Baylor for the third time this year. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT, and the winner will head to the Big 12 Championship.

All we can do is pray for Coach Self to recover quickly — not only for the sake of getting him back on the sideline, but for the health of a man who has given the Kansas program so much in the past two decades.