Darryn Peterson’s Kansas Jayhawks played the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Wednesday. Coming off a loss, the Jayhawks dominated the game, taking a 43-29 lead in the first half and eventually winning by 81-69.
Their star guard, Peterson, dropped team high 23 points in just 19 minutes. 20 of his 23 points were scored in the first half alone. Then he was limited to just three minutes in the second half.
With over 17 minutes remaining, Peterson hit a three-pointer, which ended up being his last score for the game. The Jayhawks were on track for a comfortable win, so his staying out for the rest of the game didn’t become a problem.
The 19-year-old was struggling with cramps during the game, and staying out was his only solution at the time. After the game, head coach Bill Self was asked about Peterson’s cramping issues, and he said it has become a concern for the team.
“It’s a concern,” Self said. “I thought we were past it, but obviously we’re not. It’s certainly a concern.”
Self said that the Jayhawks will need him fully healthy for the upcoming stretch of the season, and seeing Peterson struggle during games isn’t a good sign. There’s no denying that he has been one of their best players this season.
“You get into the NCAA tournament, you’re playing a team just as good as you and you need to have all your best players available, so to speak. All it takes is for one day like that to derail not only a game, but a season. It’s concerning, but I do think we’re making progress with it,” he said.
In addition to being helpful for the Jayhawks, Peterson is also expected to be among the top two picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. The continued struggle could be damaging for his draft prospects.
Darryn Peterson’s Teammates Are Learning to Play Without Him
Peterson averages 20 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting over 48% from the field, 43% from the three-point line, and nearly 80% from the charity stripe. He is the backbone of the Jayhawks.
The Jayhawks are currently fourth in the Big 12 with a 20-6 record, and Peterson has been one of the main reasons for their success. Unfortunately, Self and his team have been forced to learn how to play without him at times.
“One thing about it is [cramping] has happened enough that our guys have learned to play without him, even though that’s not the way we want to play,” he said.
Self said that they’re still not comfortable being put in that situation, but since it has become an unfortunate reality for them, the Jayhawks are doing their best to learn how to play and win games without Peterson.
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