As the Kansas Jayhawks gear up for a Big Monday showdown in Lubbock against Texas Tech, the latest injury report provides some clarity-and raises a few eyebrows-just 24 hours before tipoff.
Injury Report Highlights
For Texas Tech, guard LaTrell Hoover is officially ruled out, a blow to a Red Raiders squad that already leans heavily on its starters. On the Kansas side, forward Will Thengvall remains out, and sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson is listed as questionable. Jackson’s status is particularly notable given his recent dip in playing time-after logging 27 minutes against Kansas State, he saw the floor for just four minutes in the win over BYU.
And then there’s Darryn Peterson.
The Peterson Puzzle
Peterson didn’t see much of the second half in Kansas’ narrow win over BYU at Allen Fieldhouse, a game that saw the Jayhawks nearly give away a double-digit lead. The official word during and after the game was that Peterson was dealing with cramps-something that has reportedly been an ongoing issue since before the season tipped off.
Now, with no mention of Peterson on the injury report, all signs point to him being available for Monday night. But here’s the real question: how available is he?
Is he back to full strength, or will Kansas have to manage his minutes carefully? There’s been no official word on any restrictions, but the situation continues to feel a little murky.
For a player with Peterson’s talent and importance to the Jayhawks’ backcourt, any uncertainty is worth watching. Whether it’s conditioning, hydration, or something else entirely, Kansas will need to monitor him closely-not just for this game, but with March creeping ever closer.
Jackson’s Status Looms Large
While Jackson’s numbers-4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game on 39.5% shooting-don’t leap off the page, his presence still matters, especially for a Kansas team that’s been navigating a tight rotation. With Thengvall out and Peterson’s status in question, even limited minutes from Jackson could help stabilize the backcourt.
Kansas simply needs bodies right now. And while Jackson may not be a focal point offensively, his ability to defend and handle the ball gives head coach Bill Self options-something every coach values in a tough road environment like Lubbock.
What About Texas Tech?
The Red Raiders will be without LaTrell Hoover, which chips away at a bench that wasn’t particularly deep to begin with. That could be a key factor in this matchup. Kansas may be banged up, but Texas Tech doesn’t have a ton of room to maneuver either.
Depth could end up being the difference-maker on Monday night. If Kansas can get meaningful minutes from its role players and manage Peterson’s workload effectively, they’ll give themselves a real shot to leave Lubbock with a win.
Tipoff Time
Kansas vs. Texas Tech tips off Monday night at 8:00 p.m.
CT on ESPN. It’s a classic Big 12 battle with plenty at stake-and with both teams a little short-handed, it’s going to come down to execution, endurance, and maybe a little bit of grit.