Bill Self, the veteran head coach of the University of Kansas (KU) men's basketball team, is feeling rejuvenated as he embarks on his 23rd season with the program. After a recent health scare, which involved a heart procedure and lifestyle changes, Self is ready to lead his team into the 2025-26 season with renewed energy and a positive mindset. But can the KU basketball program match his renewed vigor?
Self, who turned 62 earlier this year, has made significant lifestyle adjustments since his heart catheterization in late July. He has slimmed down, improved his diet, and adopted a new daily routine that includes holding morning practices instead of afternoon workouts. "I feel fine. I feel good," he said at the KU basketball media day. "I’ve had a couple of wake-up calls, but this was probably a bigger knot on my head than even the first one."
Despite his health concerns, Self's coaching style hasn't changed. "I think I have more energy this year coaching so far than last year for sure. Sometimes I don’t know that we know that we feel that bad until we actually feel good and you see the difference, because I was kind of just going through the motions," he explained.
The team, ranked 19th in the preseason AP poll, is hoping to build on the success of the previous season, which saw them ranked No. 1 before the first game. "This team is equipped to be better than last year’s team was, for sure," Self said, praising the squad led by Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga. "Nothing against last year’s team, but this year’s team is more athletic and deeper."
Self also highlighted the potential of freshman sensation Peterson, who he is coaching the same way as every other player on the team. "He’s been great as far as accepting responsibility," Self noted. "He wants to be great. He wants to be good. But he needs to be told just like everybody does is what makes him good here and what translates to the next level."
However, Self acknowledges that there is still room for improvement. "He has to get more consistent with some things he’s never been told are important, like moving without the ball, being harder to guard when you don’t have the ball," he said. "Because people will take that away now. There’s still a lot of things he has to learn."
As the team prepares for the upcoming season, Self's renewed energy and positive mindset are a welcome sight for the program. But the real test will be whether the team can match his vigor and achieve the success he envisions. "This year, it (No. 19 ranking) doesn’t bother me at all," Self said. "It wouldn’t turn me on or turn me off one way or another, but I do know this: There’s a lot of good teams out there on our schedule and we’re going to have to play to a top-10, top-5 level to compete with the best teams on our schedule for sure."
With a mix of experienced players and promising newcomers, the KU basketball team is poised for a strong season. But only time will tell if they can live up to the high expectations set by their coach and fans alike.
