Joel Embiid may have seen a back specialist in Los Angeles Monday, but Kansas coach Bill Self is still completely confident his starting center will not miss the postseason.

According to ESPN, Self said he placed his confidence level at "100 percent" that Embiid will play in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments. Embiid was an unexpected breakout star at center for Kansas as a freshman who is a Cameroon native.

"This was the plan all along," Self told ESPN. "We don't anticipate anything new, but we owe it to Joel and his family to know exactly what we're dealing with."

Without Embiid, Kansas has gotten by, but the decision to sit for the Jayhawks' final two games was clearly a move to make sure he would be at his best physically for the postseason. With Embiid on the floor, his presence draws the defense to the low post and the team's guards and forwards to play in one-on-one situations. Embiid is also averaging 10 points, eight rebounds and nearly three blocks per game.

"I'm optimistic he'll play soon," Self said. "He'll be back. I'm 100 percent optimistic he'll be back. We just don't know yet whether it will be this week or next week. We're not going to put him out there until the doctors say he's ready."

Embiid has been completely absent from three games this year, a win over TCU, a win over Texas Tech and a season-finale loss to West Virginia. Against tougher foes in the postseason, there is no question Self would like to have Embiid fully available.

"He's still a little tight but much better than he was. He's been running in the pool, but certainly not to a point where he's gotten knocked around," Self told reporters on a conference call.

Self has also asked about different scenarios or various possible outcomes that could come with a faulty back. Embiid has said he will strongly consider returning to Kansas for his sophomore season, but NBA Draft experts have already placed him as a potential top-five selection.

"I've tried to get medical expert opinions," Self said. "If I play him on Thursday, can I play him on Friday? Or what if we cut his minutes back? But the big thing is having him for the following week [for the NCAA tournament], and I don't anticipate that being a problem."

Related