Kansas Star Darryn Peterson Still Day-to-Day as Big 12 Play Looms
There’s no denying Darryn Peterson’s talent. When he’s on the floor, the Kansas freshman guard looks every bit like the future NBA lottery pick many projected him to be.
He’s smooth, efficient, and explosive - a walking 20-piece who makes scoring look effortless. But the problem for Kansas fans right now?
He just hasn’t been on the floor enough.
Since exiting the Jayhawks’ opening exhibition against Louisville with cramps, Peterson’s availability has been a lingering question mark. He’s suited up for just four games this season, and while he’s made each appearance count - averaging 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on a red-hot 52.8% shooting - his on-again, off-again status has left a cloud hanging over Allen Fieldhouse.
After Kansas cruised to a 90-61 win over Davidson, head coach Bill Self addressed Peterson’s status. The message was clear: the program is in lockstep with Peterson and his family, and they’re not rushing anything.
“His family, the thing about it is, we talked about this. We're in agreement with the family that he should not play until he feels good,” Self said.
“I'm not inside his head or his body, that I can determine if he feels good enough or not. That’s up to him, but he wants to be out there.
He’s just not quite ready.”
That kind of transparency from Self speaks volumes. It’s not about pushing a young star back onto the court just because the team is entering a tough stretch. It’s about making sure Peterson is right - physically and mentally - before he suits up again.
Peterson’s last appearance came in Kansas’ dramatic 77-76 overtime win over NC State on December 13. It was a tale of two halves for the freshman.
After a quiet start, he came alive in the second half, finishing with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting. But late in the game, he was forced to the bench with quad cramping - another frustrating setback in a season that’s been defined as much by his absence as his brilliance.
Kansas has managed to stay afloat without him, going 5-2 in the seven games he’s missed. That stretch included wins over Princeton, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Missouri, along with losses to top-ranked Duke and UConn.
Against Missouri, in what was supposed to be his return, Peterson looked sharp again, dropping 17 points in an 80-60 win. But that momentum didn’t last, and he’s been sidelined since.
Now, all eyes are on January 3 - the Jayhawks’ Big 12 opener against UCF. It’s the next possible window for Peterson to return, and it couldn’t come at a more crucial time.
The Big 12 is a gauntlet this year, with six teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25: Arizona (No. 1), Iowa State (No.
3), Houston (No. 8), BYU (No.
10), Texas Tech (No. 15), and Kansas themselves.
For Kansas to make a real run in what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive conference slates in recent memory, having Peterson back - and fully healthy - could be the difference between contending and chasing.
Until then, the Jayhawks will continue to lean on their depth and experience. But make no mistake: Peterson isn’t just another piece.
He’s a game-changer. And when he’s ready, Kansas becomes a whole lot scarier.