Kansas guard Tyler Self (11) launches a for three-points in front of the Team USA bench in Team USA 96-57 win over Switzerland Thursday, July 9, at the World University Games in South Korea.

Gwangju, South Korea ? Had Kansas University men’s basketball coach Bill Self been called to lead a select team to represent the United States at the World University Games, instead of his own Jayhawks, he wouldn’t have been able to spend some quality time in South Korea with his son, Tyler.

A walk-on guard, Tyler Self played in three contests at the World University Games, scoring three points in 25 minutes, and shooting 1-of-4 from deep. 

“A lot of parents out there, regardless of situations, chase the carrot,” Bill Self said during Team USA’s run to the gold medal at the Games. “Certainly, I’ve done that, and when you do that, you obviously deprive your family a lot, your children. So having him with me every day — you can’t make up time, I’m not saying that — but certainly I think it adds to the experience. It makes it fun to coach because he’s there every day.

“Like I go down to the end of the bench and say, ‘What do you think we should run?’ He didn’t answer me, but we’ve only got three plays, so surely he should have been able to come up with one of them. He gets it. Evan Manning gets it, too. Having those two on the team, and our players will tell you, they are as important as anybody.”

Travel plans

Following Monday’s gold-medal victory, the Jayhawks left Gwangju, South Korea on Tuesday afternoon by Korea’s Train Express for Seoul, South Korea. In Seoul, they stayed in a hotel, awaiting their Wednesday morning flight out of Incheon International Airport. 

The Jayhawks have a connection flight in Detroit, where assistant coach Jerrance Howard will leave the team to begin recruiting. After landing in Kansas City, Missouri, the Jayhawks are expected to go to Hoglund Ballpark to be welcomed by KU fans around 7 p.m. Doors will open at KU’s baseball stadium, just south of Allen Fieldhouse, at 6 p.m.

Self and selected members of the team will address the crowd. With extreme heat indexes expected even in the early evening, bottled water will be available for purchase and fans are allowed to bring one, unopened bottle into the stadium.

More news and notes from today’s KU in Korea coverage

• Jayhawks counted on junior PG Frank Mason III at Games
• SMU’s Moore, Florida Gulf Coast’s DeBose enjoyed filling in for KU
• Selfs get father-and-son time in South Korea

— Check out all of KUsports.com’s exclusive KU in Korea content, from Bobby Nightengale and Mike Yoder.