No. 22 Kansas and West Virginia posted comeback wins in their previous games ahead of their Big 12 Conference showdown on Saturday in Morgantown, W. Va.
The Jayhawks (11-4, 1-1 Big 12) rallied for a hard fought 104-100 overtime home win over TCU on Tuesday.
West Virginia (10-5, 1-1) fought back to knock off Cincinnati 62-60 at home on Tuesday.
Kansas faced a 16-point deficit midway through the second half against the Horned Frogs. The Jayhawks’ defense tightened and they got just enough from freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, who scored 32 points in 32 minutes, to claw out a win.
Even though a hamstring injury and quad cramping have limited the 5-star prospect who was ranked as the overall No.1 recruit by 247 Sports to six games, Kansas coach Bill Self gushed about the potential of the team with him on the court.
“You saw what Darryn’s legs look like when he can get downhill instead of just settling for jump shots,” Self said. “Which was all he had done.”
Yet, Peterson checked out of the TCU game with 2:22 left and Kansas down 82-73. He returned with 5.4 seconds left and drew a foul while shooting a 3-pointer. He nailed all three foul shots and even launched a last-second prayer from the corner to end regulation before sitting out the entire overtime.
Tre White scored 22 points against TCU and was a go-to scorer down the stretch. Melvin Council Jr. added 18 points and Flory Bidunga tallied 16.
Whenever Peterson returns to full health, Self said the Jayhawks will have an acclimation period.
“He’s a special talent but we don’t know how to play with him yet and he doesn’t know how to play with the others yet,” Self said. “There are a lot of things we need to do until we get to that point; and that is to get tougher, harder and faster.”
West Virginia also has the momentum of a comeback win as it got starting forward Brenen Lorient back from a one-game absence after he was in concussion protocol. Even though he only scored two points and had three rebounds, West Virginia coach Ross Hodge said Lorient’s presence was felt.
“His energy length and physicality were missed,” Hodge said. “He’s another person to facilitate through and be comfortable with when the ball is in his hands.”
Honor Huff led the Mountaineers with 24 points and made 6 of 10 three-point attempts. Treysen Eaglestaff scored 10 points and nailed a tightly contested go-ahead three as the Mountaineers reclaimed a late lead.
Eaglestaff played his first three seasons at North Dakota, but Hodge praised how well he has fit in. The senior forward has scored 9.1 points and pulled down 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37% from behind the arc.
“He’s put in so much work and cares so deeply about his university and this state,” said Hodge about Eaglestaff. “You’re character and work ethic; you get favor from that.”
