Kansas may be getting a key piece back just in time for one of its biggest matchups of the season.
Freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who’s been sidelined with a sprained ankle suffered against Colorado, is trending toward a return for Saturday’s Big 12 clash between No. 14 Kansas and No.
13 BYU. Head coach Bill Self indicated after the Jayhawks’ rivalry win over Kansas State that Peterson was close to suiting up but ultimately wasn’t quite ready.
“I think he’ll play,” Self said. “I don’t know for a fact-I’m not a doctor-but I think he’ll play.”
That’s big news for a Kansas team preparing to host a red-hot BYU squad in a game that already has plenty of buzz. With ESPN’s College GameDay rolling into Lawrence and a top-15 showdown on deck, the atmosphere inside Allen Fieldhouse is going to be electric.
Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.
Peterson’s return could be a difference-maker. The freshman has shown flashes of elite two-way potential early in his college career, and his presence adds depth and versatility to a Kansas backcourt that’s been navigating injuries and inconsistency. But Self made it clear that even if Peterson had suited up against Kansas State, he wouldn’t have been close to full strength.
“If he played today, he would have been ineffective because he couldn’t have pushed off,” Self said.
That’s not the version of Peterson Kansas needs against BYU, which has been one of the most balanced and dangerous teams in the Big 12 this season. The Cougars can score in bunches, shoot the three at a high clip, and play with pace-qualities that will test Kansas on both ends of the floor.
Getting Peterson back-even in a limited role-could help stabilize the Jayhawks’ rotation and give them another weapon against a BYU team that won’t be fazed by the stage. For Kansas, this isn’t just another conference game. It’s a statement opportunity, a chance to reassert themselves in the Big 12 hierarchy, and potentially a turning point in the second half of their season.
With GameDay in town and a top-15 matchup on the schedule, Saturday’s showdown is shaping up to be one of the marquee moments of the college basketball weekend-and Darryn Peterson’s return could be one of its biggest storylines.