Kansas freshman phenom Darryn Peterson was noticeably absent from the Jayhawks’ high-profile showdown against No. 1 Arizona, sidelined with flu-like symptoms. And while head coach Bill Self defended his young star, not everyone’s buying the explanation-especially ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, who didn’t mince words when asked about the situation.
Greenberg, speaking on the Don’t @ Me podcast, expressed disappointment with Peterson’s decision to sit out, especially given that the freshman guard was seen participating in pregame warmups. That detail-Peterson being active with the team before tipoff-sparked criticism from Greenberg, who questioned the optics and the message it sends.
“‘Oh, I have a cold.’ Seriously?
A cold?” Greenberg said.
“I go to work every day when I have a cold. It puts Bill [Self] in a tough situation… be a guy your teammates can count on.”
That comment, while blunt, taps into a broader conversation about availability, accountability, and expectations-especially for a player with NBA aspirations. In college basketball, especially at a blue-blood program like Kansas, there’s a certain level of grit and reliability that’s expected. Fair or not, when a player suits up for warmups but doesn’t take the floor in a marquee matchup, eyebrows are going to raise.
This isn’t the first bump in the road for Peterson this season. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.
A nagging hamstring issue slowed him early on. Once that cleared, cramping became a recurring problem.
That’s reportedly more manageable now, but then came the ankle injury, which cost him additional time. Those setbacks are part of the grind-especially for a freshman adjusting to the physical demands of the college game.
But this latest absence, due to illness, is drawing more scrutiny. Not because being sick isn’t valid-it absolutely is-but because of the context.
If Peterson was well enough to go through warmups, some feel he should’ve suited up, especially in a game of that magnitude. On the flip side, there’s also the argument that if he really was under the weather, being around the team at all could’ve risked spreading it through the locker room.
It’s a tough spot for any young player, especially one carrying the weight of expectations like Peterson. He’s been touted as a future lottery pick, and with that comes a microscope.
Every decision-on or off the court-gets magnified. And while injuries and illness are part of the game, so is learning how to navigate them in a way that earns the trust of coaches, teammates, and yes, even critics.
Greenberg’s comments may come off as harsh, but they reflect a mindset that’s deeply rooted in competitive sports: availability is a skill. And for Peterson, learning how to manage his body, push through discomfort when appropriate, and understand the perception of his choices will be a key part of his growth-not just as a college player, but as a future pro.
Kansas will move forward, and so will Peterson. But moments like this become part of a player’s narrative. How he responds will say more than any single missed game ever could.