Kansas Monitoring Darryn Peterson’s Status Ahead of Towson Matchup
As Kansas gears up for its Tuesday night matchup against Towson, all eyes are on the status of standout freshman Darryn Peterson. The Jayhawks’ dynamic guard exited late in the second half against NC State, and while the initial concern might’ve pointed to a re-aggravated hamstring, head coach Bill Self made it clear - this time, it’s something else.
“I have no idea [what his status will be on Tuesday],” Self said. “We didn’t practice yesterday.
I just saw him in the hallway - he’s lifting with the guys right now. We’ll practice later.”
Peterson left the NC State game with what Self described as quad cramps, not a hamstring issue. That distinction matters, especially considering Peterson already missed seven games earlier this season with a hamstring strain. This time, though, the discomfort appeared to be more about muscle fatigue than structural damage.
“To me, you guys saw the game - it was evident he wasn’t moving at the pace he needs to,” Self said. “The way teams are going to guard him, he’s got to be able to go full speed. It was obviously bothering him.”
Peterson logged 31 minutes against NC State, posting 17 points on an efficient 7-for-14 shooting. But in the second half, something clearly wasn’t right.
He played just 14 minutes after the break and was seen grimacing before asking out of the game with just over two minutes remaining. After that, he remained behind the bench, not in visible distress but clearly not ready to return.
When asked directly whether the hamstring was a factor again, Self was definitive.
“I haven’t heard the word ‘hamstring’ one time,” he said. “That’s straight from our medical staff.
It’s got to get addressed, and it hasn’t yet. I know it’s frustrating for him - when you can’t move the way you’re used to, you start to play cautious.
And we’ve got to figure that out. We haven’t done that yet.”
This isn’t the first time cramps have slowed Peterson down. He also didn’t finish KU’s exhibition game at Louisville due to a similar issue. While it’s not the same as a long-term injury, it’s something Kansas will need to monitor closely, especially with the Big 12 schedule looming.
Peterson’s impact on the floor this season has been undeniable. He’s averaging 19.3 points per game while shooting a blistering 52.8% from the field and 42.3% from deep. Add in 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, and it’s clear why the Jayhawks are eager to keep him healthy and on the court.
Kansas faces Towson on Tuesday night in what will be their penultimate game before the holiday break. Their final non-conference matchup comes on December 22, and then it’s a short pause before the Big 12 opener on January 3. Self is expected to provide another update on Peterson when he meets with reporters Monday.
For now, KU fans will be watching closely - not just to see if Peterson suits up, but to see if he looks like himself when he does.