Star Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half against Oklahoma State on Wednesday but was limited to just the first three minutes of the second half with a cramping issue that coach Bill Self called concerning.

Peterson removed himself from the No. 8 Jayhawks’ 81-69 win over Oklahoma State shortly after hitting a 3-pointer. He did not return for the final 17:22 of the game.

“It’s a concern,” Self told reporters after the game. “I thought we were past it, but obviously we’re not. It’s certainly a concern.

“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.”

Peterson, a guard who is expected to be among the first picks in the NBA draft later this year, has had a stop-start season for the Jayhawks, missing several games due to a hamstring issue while also sitting out due to an ankle injury and illness. He has previously missed or exited games early due to cramping issues.

“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,” Self told reporters. “But that’s certainly something we’re not unaccustomed to right now.”

Against the Cowboys, Peterson made 7 of 12 field goals, including 6 of 10 3-pointers. He had shot 13-for-36 from the field combined in his previous three games.

Tre White scored 16 points, Elmarko Jackson added 14, and Bryson Tiller had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists as Kansas (20-6, 10-3 Big 12) bounced back from a blowout loss at Iowa State on Saturday.

Parsa Fallah scored 21 points and Anthony Roy added 16 for Oklahoma State (16-10, 4-9), which lost its fourth straight game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bryce Harper will play for Team USA for the first time since 2009 in the World Baseball Classic, and he is very much “looking forward” to the opportunity.

But before the two-time MVP talked about the WBC during a recent appearance on “Bussin’ With The Boys,” Harper and the hosts, former NFL players Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, discussed recent comments by some American Olympians about how it has felt indifferent to represent the Stars and Stripes on the grand scale.

“That’s crazy,” Harper said simply.

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The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman said that no matter where one may stand politically, it is always the greatest honor to represent the United States.

“Obviously there’s things that are going on in the country that, you know, aren’t good or people don’t believe in or whatever, right? Politics aside, for me, when you’re going and representing your country, you’re representing your country, man. Like, block all that out. It’s sports.

“We want to put something on the TV that is happy and good and just great for everybody to watch, right? So representing your country, there’s nothing greater than representing your country. There’s really nothing at all.”

Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park on June 5, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

TEAM USA TO BATTLE CANADA FOR OLYMPIC GOLD AFTER DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AGAINST SLOVAKIA

Freeskier Hunter Hess said he had “mixed emotions” representing the U.S. in Milan, while skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she wanted to represent her own “values,” and it was “tough to reconcile” violence in America while “competing for medals at an Olympic event.”

In an interview with Fox News Digital months before the 2024 Summer Olympics, Noah Lyles said representing the U.S. was “bittersweet” and came with a “heavy heart,” saying Black people in America have “a lot to deal with.”

Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper celebrates his two-run home run during the first inning in Game 3 of baseball’s World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Philadelphia.  (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Harper was going to play in the 2023 WBC but was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. This year, he joins a stacked roster alongside Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Cal Raleigh.

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Team USA needed overtime to defeat Sweden in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament.

Friday’s game in the semifinal round was not nearly as stressful for viewers.

The Americans scored early and often, and closed out a 6-2 win over Slovakia to earn a spot in the gold medal game, where the team will face Canada on Sunday (8:10 a.m. ET).

How did the U.S. put together such a dominant performance? Who were the key players in the contest? And what does it all mean as we look ahead to the final showdown against the U.S.’s primary hockey rival?

Takeaway 1: The U.S. attack is back

This was by far the best Team USA has looked in the tournament, particularly on the offensive side. The Americans didn’t have the same spark in their quarterfinals matchup against Sweden, where they managed just one goal in regulation while several of their top forwards were stymied. It took an overtime marker from defenseman Quinn Hughes to put them through to the semis, after all.

The U.S. made up for lost time against Slovakia. Dylan Larkin (the other scorer in the quarterfinal victory), Tage Thompson, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk (on a breakaway, no less) all contributed goals in the rout, and it felt like there was more cohesion up front than we’ve seen so far from this group.

A FILTHY move by Brady Tkachuk to extend the lead. pic.twitter.com/CIrgDfTFR6

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026

It’s not unusual for a team to take time developing chemistry when thrown together for a short period. We’re seeing that evolution in real time from the USA, and the team has picked the perfect moment to crescendo.

Takeaway 2: Discipline — with a capital D — matters

The Americans had little trouble scoring goals Friday. But they could stand to be smarter when it comes to giving up opportunities for goals against.

The U.S. committed four penalties in just over 25 minutes of game action, and they were indefensible at that. (Think too many errant sticks.) Charlie McAvoy took two on his own, and skaters like him (or Auston Matthews, another top player getting the gate) are meant to be creating momentum for their squad, not taking it away.

Yes, the Americans’ penalty kill came through — repeatedly — and overall did a good job limiting Slovakia’s shot opportunities; the Slovaks didn’t help themselves either with a baffling lack of net presence in front of Connor Hellebuyck.

However, coughing up so many power-play chances is high-risk territory, and if the U.S. hopes to achieve its ultimate goal in Sunday’s gold medal clash, discipline will be paramount. The Canadians own one of the deadliest power plays in the tournament with talent to spare finding twine.

Slovakia managed just 23 shots on the U.S. netminder, and he had the luxury of a cushy lead on the board for most of the night. However, aside from a misplay behind the net ahead of Juraj Slavkovsky’s goal, Hellebuyck was rock solid (again) for the U.S. and should give the team every confidence going into the projected goalie matchup with Jordan Binnington for gold.

However, Hellebuyck might have more to prove than Binnington. He has been maligned for poor playoff performances in the NHL, and despite earning regular-season accolades (including a Hart Trophy last season as league MVP), Hellebuyck hasn’t had that signature victory at the highest level of his sport that truly sets apart top-tier goaltenders.

This is his opportunity to silence those doubters and show he can close the door against the game’s best competition, when stakes are at their absolute highest.

Player of the game: Jack Hughes, F

This was the Jack Hughes performance we’ve been waiting for in Milan. It’s not that Hughes was invisible by any means before this semifinal. It’s just that he hadn’t looked like that truly dominant offensive threat he has shown to be in the past.

His first goal — deking his way through Slovakia’s defense — was highlight-reel worthy and an injection of confidence for the U.S. amid a slew of penalty troubles. And the second Hughes goal was opportunistic — right player, right place, right time.

Jack Hughes said “ANOTHA ONE”. pic.twitter.com/GG2bK1YPlj

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026

Hughes has been playing in a fourth-line role for a stacked U.S. team, and that’s not a place he’s used to being in the NHL. Hughes embraced what chance he had, though, and is finally making the most of it. Perhaps Hughes was inspired by brother Quinn’s heroics in the quarters, sending some added competitive fire into his skates. Whatever inspired Hughes, it was what the U.S. needed from one of its most talented shooters.

Big question for the gold medal game

How will the U.S. contain Canada’s top skaters?

There are looming personnel questions for both teams going into Sunday’s final. Will Sidney Crosby be available for Canada after he missed Friday’s semifinal with an injury? And will the U.S. have Thompson available following his departure against Slovakia with what were deemed “precautionary reasons,” possibly stemming from a blocked shot off his foot in the second?

However the lineups shake out, the U.S. will have its hands full with the team standing between it and gold. This is familiar territory of course, given that Canada and the U.S. battled it out in the 4 Nations Face-Off final one year ago. The U.S. was on the losing end of that effort. Most of their roster experienced that disappointment; now is when we’ll find out if they learned anything from it.

Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and newcomer Macklin Celebrini have piloted Canada’s offense to, if not new heights, a predictably high level. Can the U.S. harness all its firepower at once to flip the 4 Nations script, and match what the U.S. women were able to do in denying Canada hockey gold?

Overall team grade: A-

The penalties may not have cost Team USA, but if we’re looking at ways to improve, staying out of the box would be a significant one.

The goal on Hellebuyck by Slavkovsky notwithstanding (his misplay on that and the general defensive zone disarray was striking), it was a fairly clean game overall by the Americans. Their scoring depth came through, star players created chances and Hellebuyck was excellent when called upon.

The U.S. has been building momentum through the tournament, and that’s continuing right on into Sunday’s clash.