Sunflower Showdown Injury Watch: Kansas and K-State Stars Questionable Ahead of Rivalry Clash
As the Sunflower Showdown draws near, both Kansas and Kansas State are facing some uncertainty around key players heading into Saturday night’s rivalry tilt at Bramlage Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., but the final rosters for both squads remain in flux - and that could have a major impact on how this one plays out.
Let’s start with the headliner: Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. The projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft tweaked his ankle during the Jayhawks’ win over Colorado on Jan.
- He managed to finish the game, but the injury wasn’t a minor knock.
Head coach Bill Self called it a “pretty severe ankle sprain,” and while there’s optimism that it’s just a sprain, there’s still no clear call on whether Peterson will suit up Saturday.
That’s a big deal. Peterson has only played in 10 games this season - all starts - due to earlier injury issues, but when he’s on the court, he’s a game-changer.
He’s averaging 21.6 points and 4.6 rebounds, and he’s been a driving force in every Big 12 matchup so far. His presence - or absence - could swing the balance in a rivalry game where every possession matters.
“He’s getting treatment,” Self said on Thursday. “Hopefully he’ll be able to go and play, but we’re not at a point where we can make a decision on that yet.”
Kansas isn’t the only team monitoring injury updates. On the other side of the rivalry, Kansas State is dealing with its own lineup questions.
Starting guard Khamari McGriff, who missed the Wildcats’ Jan. 20 win over Utah, is listed as questionable. Head coach Jerome Tang didn’t offer many specifics, calling McGriff “day-to-day” after the game.
That’s not the only hit to K-State’s depth. The Wildcats are already without Abdi Bashir Jr., their second-leading scorer, who recently had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. He’s expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks - a blow to a team that leans heavily on his offensive production.
K-State will also continue to be without Mobi Ikegwuruka and Elias Rapieque. Neither has played since early January - Ikegwuruka last saw the floor in a Jan. 7 loss at Arizona, Rapieque in a Jan. 10 game at Arizona State. Tang has declined to disclose the nature of their injuries, citing privacy laws, but their continued absence further stretches the Wildcats’ rotation.
As for Kansas, freshman Will Thengvall is also listed as “out” and won’t be available for the Jayhawks.
So what does all this mean heading into Saturday? The Sunflower Showdown is always intense, but this year’s edition could be shaped as much by who’s in street clothes as who’s in uniform.
If Peterson can’t go, Kansas loses its top scorer and primary offensive engine. If McGriff is out, K-State’s backcourt takes a serious hit, especially with Bashir Jr. already sidelined.
This is a rivalry where every edge matters - and right now, both teams are waiting to see who’s ready to battle when the lights come on in Manhattan.