The highly anticipated top-25 clash between Kansas and UConn at Allen Fieldhouse will be missing one of its brightest young stars. Kansas head coach Bill Self confirmed that freshman phenom Darryn Peterson will not suit up Tuesday night as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that’s sidelined him for the past six games.
Peterson, the No. 1 overall recruit in the country per 247Sports, has been working to get back on the floor after a red-hot start to his college career. Self shared that the freshman is "very close" to returning and has been grinding through rehab, but he’s still not quite 100 percent. The decision came after Peterson participated in practice and underwent strength and flexibility testing, but the coaching staff opted to play it safe and keep him out - at least for now.
Before the injury, Peterson made an instant impact. In his first two games, including a marquee matchup at No.
16 North Carolina, he averaged over 21 points per game while shooting a blistering 73% in true shooting efficiency. He exited Kansas’ opener against Green Bay with what was initially described as cramping, but after logging 29 minutes against UNC, he hasn’t played since.
Even without their top recruit, the Jayhawks haven’t missed a beat. Kansas rolled through the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas last week, going 3-0 in a field stacked with talent.
Their signature win came against a previously unbeaten Tennessee team, where they rallied from 12 down in the second half to win 81-76. That comeback was fueled by Kansas’ trademark defensive intensity, especially on the perimeter - they held the Volunteers to just 28% from three, a testament to their elite closeouts and disciplined rotations.
UConn, meanwhile, is no stranger to elite young talent. The Huskies already had a taste of top-tier freshman firepower when they faced BYU’s AJ Dybantsa - another name in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft. Dybantsa dropped 21 points in the second half alone, showcasing the kind of scoring burst that makes scouts drool.
UConn has its own NBA-caliber prospect working his way back from injury. Braylon Mullins, projected as the No. 13 pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft, made his season debut on Friday after recovering from an ankle injury. His return adds another layer of intrigue to an already loaded Huskies roster.
Tuesday night’s showdown may be missing Peterson, but there’s still no shortage of talent on display. Kansas continues to evolve without its star freshman, while UConn looks to build momentum with Mullins back in the fold. This one still has all the makings of a heavyweight battle - even if one of the biggest names is watching from the sideline.