It took just minutes for Kansas’ gut-wrenching 67-65 round of 32 loss to St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament to spark rumors over head coach Bill Self’s exit. And as he openly admitted on Jon Rothstein’s “Inside College Basketball Now,” it was his own doing.
“First of all, I made a mistake in the presser afterwards…I should have said, ‘Oh, God, there's no decision to be made.’ And then therefore it wouldn't have ever been a big deal. So I made a mistake there,” opened Self.
“But at that moment, I probably thought that was it. In large part because of health issues.”
Self had undergone stent insertion the summer prior, and even missed Kansas’ trip to Colorado this season after feeling “under the weather.” Self received IV treatment and was able to coach Kansas’ next game, an 86-62 win over Kansas State.
Self did not miss a game for the rest of the season, en route to the Jayhawks 24-11 finish.
“And I had been told some things and I'd had some issues during the season that weren't documented…But, talking to multiple doctors, an expert out of Dallas, doing different things…And I started feeling better immediately. I jumped the gun a little bit because I was probably nervous about it.”
Following the Jayhawks’ fourth exit before the Sweet 16 in a row, Self kept the door open for an exit for nearly 10 full days before announcing his return to coach his 24th season with KU.
Self is fully healthy and ready to make the charge with the 2026 Jayhawks
“But the reality is, I feel good. My doctor said, Bill, [the reason] you're doing this [retiring] shouldn't be because of health, because your health is fine. I needed to hear that at the end of the season,” closed Self.
Following what should have been the most dramatic part of Kansas’ offseason, the media storm should have been firmly past. However, instead came sudden exits of all but sophomores Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya. It started with star center Flory Bidunga and worked itself through the rest of the team, forcing Self and his staff to nail the NCAA Transfer Portal, something that has had mixed results since its rise to prominence earlier this decade.
Looming above the incoming entrances and exits was the intense recruiting battle for the nation’s No. 1 player, small forward Tyran Stokes. Ultimately, the Jayhawks landed Stokes and found their focal point for the 2026-27 season.
As of publishing, there are still rumors that the Jayhawks are looking for more options for next season, but nothing has been set in stone.
The 2026 offseason has been anything but straightforward for the KU basketball program, but things have at least appeared to steady out, even if it most recently included the decommitment and reclassification of 5-star Javon Bardwell from the class of 2027 to the class of 2026.
Up next for Self and Co. is to finalize next season’s roster while also preparing for a stacked 2026-27 slate.
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