Kansas Sends a Message Without Its Star, Hands Arizona First Loss of the Season
Monday night in Lawrence had all the ingredients of a classic - a packed Allen Fieldhouse, a No. 1 team in town, and a marquee showdown between the nation’s top-ranked Arizona Wildcats and a Kansas squad that’s been heating up at just the right time. But just before tipoff, the buzz turned into disbelief: Darryn Peterson, the Jayhawks’ star guard and a projected top NBA Draft pick, was ruled out with flu-like symptoms.
That late scratch could’ve deflated the moment. Instead, it lit a fire.
Peterson Sidelined Again - And Kansas Responds
This marked the 11th game Peterson has missed this season, after earlier absences due to cramping and lower-body issues. His availability has been a storyline all year, and while some have raised eyebrows at the nature and timing of his missed games, what matters most is how Kansas performs without him.
And on Monday night, they didn’t just survive. They thrived.
Flory Bidunga Steps Up, Defense Locks In
With Peterson out, Kansas leaned into its identity - gritty defense, disciplined execution, and a frontcourt that can control the paint. Leading the charge was big man Flory Bidunga, who delivered one of his most impactful performances of the season. Bidunga’s presence on both ends of the floor gave Kansas the edge they needed, especially in the second half when they clamped down on Arizona’s high-powered offense.
This wasn’t just a good win. It was a statement - Kansas can beat anyone, even the No. 1 team in the country, without their best player on the floor.
A Team That’s Learning to Win in New Ways
Let’s be clear: Kansas is not better without Darryn Peterson. You don’t lose your top scorer and ball handler and become a stronger team. But what’s becoming increasingly clear is that this group has learned how to adapt when he’s not available - and that resilience is starting to show.
In the 11 games Peterson has missed, Kansas is now 9-2. That includes wins over five power-conference opponents, with Monday’s victory over Arizona standing as the crown jewel.
The two losses? UConn and Duke - two of the nation’s elite.
So while the Jayhawks haven’t always looked sharp without Peterson, they’ve proven they can still compete at a high level. That’s no small thing in a season where depth, chemistry, and adaptability are often what separates contenders from pretenders.
Moments of Chaos, Moments of Growth
There have been bumps along the way. Kansas nearly coughed up a 20-point lead against BYU when Peterson exited at halftime.
But there have also been flashes of something special - like the comeback win over TCU, where Kansas erased an eight-point deficit in the final two minutes after Peterson left the game with cramps. That night, the Jayhawks found another gear.
Monday night, they found it again.
It’s not that they’re better without him - they’re just different. More spread out offensively.
More focused defensively. And maybe, just maybe, a little more galvanized when they know they have to dig deep without their star.
A Team That’s Earning Belief - With or Without Its Star
Coming into this week, there was a sense that Kansas couldn’t be taken seriously without Peterson. Monday night flipped that narrative on its head. Bill Self’s squad didn’t just beat Arizona - they imposed their will late, outplaying the Wildcats in crunch time with a mix of toughness and execution that championship teams are built on.
Now, the question shifts from “Can Kansas win without Peterson?” to “How dangerous could this team be with him healthy and locked in?”
With the Big 12 Tournament looming and March Madness on the horizon, all eyes will be on how much Peterson plays - and how much he’s willing to push for a national title. Because if Monday night proved anything, it’s that Kansas doesn’t need to be carried. But with their star back in the lineup, they might just be unstoppable.