Bill Self's Team on the Brink of Disaster Before Historic Turnaround

ATLANTA — For 34 minutes, the Kansas Jayhawks played in a manner that was antithetical to how coach Bill Self wants his teams to play basketball. Self's teams have always been known for their tenacious defense and fluid offense, but against Michigan State in the Champions Classic, the Jayhawks looked like a completely different team.

In the first 34 minutes of the game, Kansas struggled to find any sort of rhythm on offense, and their defense was porous, to say the least. Michigan State took advantage of the Jayhawks' lackluster play and built a 10-point lead late in the second half.

But in the final six minutes of the game, something clicked for the Jayhawks. They suddenly remembered how to play like a Bill Self-coached team. They started to defend with a sense of urgency and purpose, and their offense finally started to click.

Kansas went on a 15-2 run in the final six minutes of the game, capped off by a clutch three-pointer from Christian Braun. Braun's three-pointer put the Jayhawks up by two with just over a minute to play, and they would never look back.

The Jayhawks' comeback was capped off by a defensive stop on Michigan State's final possession. The Spartans had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead, but the Jayhawks' defense came up huge, forcing a tough jump shot that was well off the mark.

Kansas ended up winning the game 77-69, in what was a historic moment for Bill Self. Self became just the seventh coach in NCAA history to reach the 750-win milestone. It was a well-deserved milestone for one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history.

After the game, Self was visibly emotional as he talked about the significance of the milestone. 'It means a lot to me,' Self said in the post-game press conference. 'I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach some great players and work with some amazing coaches over the years.'

The Jayhawks' victory was a testament to the team's resilience and determination. Down by 10 with just six minutes to play, the Jayhawks could have easily given up. But they refused to quit, and their hard work paid off in the end.

The win also marked a huge statement for the Jayhawks in the young college basketball season. Kansas has been ranked as one of the top teams in the country, but they had yet to be truly tested. After passing the test against Michigan State, the Jayhawks look like they are ready to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

As for Self, he can now focus on winning his next 750 games. At the rate he's going, that won't take too long. With his team clicking on all cylinders and playing like a true title contender, the sky's the limit for the Jayhawks under the leadership of their legendary coach.