While his presence wasn’t strictly necessary, the No. 8-ranked Kansas team played without its prominent player, Darryn Peterson, for a significant portion of the second half during their decisive victory against Oklahoma State on Wednesday evening.
Peterson, long projected as an early pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, has struggled throughout the current season with persistent injuries and illnesses that have kept him off the court. However, in Stillwater on Wednesday, Peterson showcased glimpses of his usual form, scoring 23 points, with 20 of those coming in the opening half, establishing a swift double-digit lead for the Jayhawks.
Nevertheless, Peterson’s play was cut short. After successfully sinking a 3-pointer from the wing, Peterson immediately signaled to head coach Bill Self, requesting to be substituted. He did not return to the game thereafter.
“I didn’t anticipate that tonight at all. I thought he was good to go,” Self said, via the Lawrence Journal-World’s Henry Greenstein. “But we only got 18 minutes out of him. That’s disappointing because he could have had a really good night.”
Peterson concluded the win with 23 points and two assists, converting 6-of-10 attempts from beyond the arc. His final long-range shot extended the Jayhawks’ lead to 13 points at that moment. They maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game, securing an 81-69 victory. On average, Peterson has contributed 19.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest this season, with a field goal percentage just under 48%.
This season, Peterson has been absent for 11 games, drawing considerable scrutiny. He was a last-minute withdrawal from Kansas’s game against then top-ranked Arizona after participating in pregame warmups, citing flu-like symptoms. Overall, Peterson’s time away from the court has been due to a hamstring strain, an ankle sprain, a quad problem, and episodes of cramping.
The exact reason for his request to exit the game on Wednesday evening remains undisclosed.
Despite the erratic availability of their key player, the Jayhawks maintain a 20-6 record and hold the third position in the Big 12 standings. They are scheduled to face both No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona before the regular season concludes, matchups that would undoubtedly be more manageable with Peterson performing at his peak.
However, it is evident that Peterson is not yet at optimal health. With merely five regular-season games remaining before the Big 12 tournament — anticipated to be the most competitive and talent-rich among major conferences this March — his window to reach full fitness is rapidly closing.
