The Darryn Peterson storyline continues to swirl around Kansas basketball, and it’s not settling down anytime soon. After sitting out the Jayhawks’ upset win over No. 1 Arizona earlier in the week, the five-star freshman was back in uniform against Iowa State-but his role was limited, and the questions surrounding his usage only grew louder.
Peterson started the game, but his second-half minutes were noticeably reduced. That left fans scratching their heads, especially in a game where Kansas needed all the firepower it could muster.
Head coach Bill Self addressed the situation postgame, pointing to Peterson’s recent illness and saying he wasn’t fully recovered. Self also mentioned that he wanted to keep the freshman fresh for the team’s next matchup-against Oklahoma State, four days away.
That explanation raised some eyebrows. In a Top 10 showdown against a tough Iowa State squad, sitting a key contributor late in the game to preserve him for a future opponent is bound to draw scrutiny. Self clarified his thinking, saying it came down to “game flow and conditioning.”
“I tried to sub him because, guys, he’s been sick,” Self said. “When he needed to come out there at the end, I was thinking, what do we do to give us the best chance to have success on Wednesday? That was just me making that decision.”
But context matters-and so does the scoreboard. Iowa State controlled the game from the jump and never really let Kansas into it, cruising to a 74-56 win.
It wasn’t just Peterson who struggled. The entire Jayhawks roster looked out of sync, lacking the energy and execution that defined their big win over Arizona.
Peterson finished with 10 points in 23 minutes, but Kansas needed more from him-especially in a game where the offense was sputtering. It’s not just about the box score, either. His presence on the floor changes how defenses operate, and his ability to create off the dribble is something few players on the roster can replicate.
Self didn’t sugarcoat the team’s performance, calling out the group for not showing up in a game that had major implications. This was supposed to be a statement opportunity, a chance to build momentum after knocking off the nation’s top-ranked team. Instead, Kansas looked flat, and Iowa State took full advantage.
Now, the Jayhawks have to regroup quickly. Oklahoma State is next, and while Self’s decision to limit Peterson’s minutes may make more sense if he’s fully ready to go in that one, the optics of the move in the moment were tough to ignore.
For Kansas fans, the hope is that this isn’t the start of a trend. Peterson is too talented, too important to what this team wants to accomplish. Whether it’s illness, game flow, or any other factor, the Jayhawks need him on the floor-and at full strength-if they’re going to make a serious run this season.
The drama around Peterson may not be going away, but Kansas will be hoping the questions fade if the wins start piling up again.