Bill Self makes good on promise to Scott “Scooter” Ward

Kansas University junior men's basketball player Wayne Simien, left, laughs with academic counselor Scott Ward in 2004 while going over Simien's homework schedule at Wagnon Student Athletic Center. Ward, who works with the men's basketball, volleyball and tennis squads at KU, has overcome a paralyzing accident to realize his dream of coaching.

Wednesday night, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self made KU academic advisor Scott “Scooter” Ward a lighthearted promise in his hospital room in Kansas City, where he continues to grind through his recovery from recent surgery to repair a torn aorta.

The promise was simple: Self would say something about Ward at Thursday’s media day event at Allen Fieldhouse.

After 25 minutes of talking about his team and covering everything from projected lineups and player improvement to season goals and preseason expectations, Self’s “something” turned into much, much more.

“I think of Andrea (Hudy) and Bill Cowgill and Scooter as being an assistant coach and the players all know that,” Self said.

Ward is so important to the program that instead of spending time and living it up with former KU stars and current NBA players Andrew Wiggins, Cole Aldrich and Brandon Rush last weekend at Sprint Center, Self and his team stuck with Ward.

They attended the preseason game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat after the visit but never considered picking preseason hoops over a part of the family.

Because of hospital rules, only the four oldest players on the roster went in to see Ward, two at a time.

Senior guard Frank Mason was one of them, and Thursday, Mason shared his memories of the visit.

“Very sad,” Mason said at the team’s media day. “When we got the news, it was just heartbreaking. It’s sad to hear those type of things. Just to go up to the hospital and see him like that, it was an even worse feeling. … It was one of the worst things that I’ve ever been a part of.”

Added Self: “They were all very moved and saddened to see him in such a tough position.”

Despite the difficult encounter last Saturday, one day after Ward’s surgery, athletes and coaches throughout KU campus have been getting nothing but positive news about Ward’s recovery in the days since.

Self provided the following update from a little less than 24 hours ago.

“I was over there last night,” Self said. “The guy’s got a sense of humor. He’s talking. He’s moving. He’s sitting up. He watched the volleyball girls play last night. He was excited about that. Short-term memory seems pretty good. Long-term memory seems excellent. He’s totally amazing everybody over there.

“He’s a remarkable human being. He’s the best role model the guys can have. He’s as tough a human being as I’ve ever been around. He’s been through more than most of us will ever go through. And to throw a torn aorta on top of everything else, it’s remarkable that he’s doing as well as he’s doing. It’s a miracle. But it’s also a sign of his toughness, too.”