Kansas Guard Darryn Peterson Out vs. UConn as Hamstring Recovery Continues
Kansas will be without standout freshman Darryn Peterson when they take the floor against UConn on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. Head coach Bill Self confirmed that Peterson is still working his way back from a hamstring strain and isn’t quite ready to suit up.
“Darryn is not going to play tonight,” Self said. “He is very close.
He has worked his butt off but he is still not 100 percent. He is day to day.”
It’s a tough break for Kansas, especially with a high-profile matchup on deck. UConn, a team that’s been firmly in the national conversation, presents a serious test - and having Peterson available would’ve been a major boost. But Self and the KU staff are clearly taking the long view here, prioritizing full recovery over rushing a return.
Peterson had been listed as a game-time decision heading into Tuesday. Self noted on Monday that while the freshman had been practicing and participating in drills, there were still medical benchmarks he needed to clear - particularly in strength and flexibility - before being cleared to play.
“He has practiced. He's gone up and down [in practice],” Self said.
“The hesitancy I have is that before we announce anything is, he has to test out medically from a strength and flexibility standpoint. And we'll know that in the morning.”
That evaluation ultimately led to the decision to hold him out.
And it’s easy to see why Kansas wants to be cautious. Peterson was electric in his first two games of the season, averaging 21.5 points on a blistering 60% shooting clip, while adding 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. His impact on both ends of the floor was immediate - the kind of presence that changes the complexion of a game.
Still, the Jayhawks have managed well in his absence, entering Tuesday’s game with a 5-1 record. That includes quality wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Tennessee in the Players Era event. Their lone loss came against Duke in the Champions Classic - a battle between two blue-blood programs that delivered as advertised.
With Peterson sidelined again, Kansas is expected to stick with the lineup it leaned on late in the Players Era, which featured Jamari McDowell stepping into a starting role in place of Kohl Rosario. McDowell brings a different skill set than Peterson, but he’s shown flashes of his own, particularly on the defensive end and in transition.
Tip-off between Kansas and UConn is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
And while Peterson won’t be on the floor tonight, his return seems to be getting closer. For now, Kansas will look to keep the momentum going - and keep building depth - as they navigate a tough non-conference slate.