Before traveling to Lawrence to take on the home team, Arizona was undefeated. Sitting on top of the Big 12 conference, they were the favorites to win this matchup. Kansas entered the game as No. 9 in the country – holding on to the home court advantage, they wanted to challenge Arizona. It was going to be a tough game no matter what.
But the Jayhawks did it without their best player.
Shortly before tip-off, freshman guard Darryn Peterson was ruled out. It took everybody – coaches and players included – by surprise. Paterson participated in the team’s shootaround earlier that day; he even warmed up with the team for the actual game before sitting out the last pre-game stretch. Then he was gone. When the contest began, Peterson wasn’t even on the bench.
Kansas later announced that Peterson was dealing with flu-like symptoms. The pregame availability report had not mentioned an illness, and his presence in warmups followed by his absence at tip-off quickly fueled speculation. Eventually, it unfolded into drama.
What is really going on with the Kansas star?
On the court, Peterson has delivered a sensational freshman campaign. The 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. His size, athleticism, and shot-making ability have positioned him as one of the most exciting prospects in college basketball and a projected top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Yet availability has been Peterson’s kryptonite in his first collegiate season. He played in 13 games and missed 11 contests due to various reasons. After appearing in the first two matchups for the Jayhawks, Peterson missed seven consecutive games – including glorified clashes against UConn and Duke – with a hamstring injury. Then, it was cramping in his leg followed by an ankle injury. His latest nonappearance was labeled as a sickness.
Unfortunately, injuries are part of basketball and mostly out of players’ control. A muscle injury shadowed by cramps and an ankle sprain isn’t anything extraordinary that hoopers don’t normally deal with. But it was Peterson’s flu-like symptoms that put a stain on his otherwise bright career.
It wasn’t just Peterson’s absence itself that raised people’s eyebrows. It was about how it happened and what it was surrounded by. An account on X, named Arizona Barstool, shared a video of an unknown individual inside the Kansas arena texting someone what seemed like inside information about the situation.
“So he’s sick, and he didn’t tell anyone in practice, and (Kansas coach Bill Self) said don’t half ass it if you're gonna play, if not sit. DP said F–k It, I’m out,” was in the text according to the Barstool account.
Shortly after the release, the post went viral. It spread so rapidly that the Kansas Strategic Communications Department had to intervene.
“The person texting in this video is a contracted crew worker who handles official stats during the game for ESPN,” Berk posted. “He does not work for KU and is not affiliated with the athletic department in any way. He has no inside information and was speculating. We are handling internally,” the statement said.
While the authenticity of the alleged inside information remains unverified, the combination of Peterson’s previous absences in big games and the unusual pregame sequence fueled rumors about his commitment. Peterson reportedly earns $1.9 million through NIL deals, making him one of the highest-paid players in college basketball. With that visibility comes heightened expectations.
Peterson’s decision to sit out even surprised his head coach, Bill Self.
“I thought adrenaline would kick in and he would go,” Self said. “He was at shootaround today, he was out there, but you could just tell he didn’t feel great. We were all hopeful that he’d kick in and be ready to go.”
The Jayhawks were getting ready to take on an undefeated, No.1 team in front of a sold-out crowd. Isn’t this every player’s dream? But Peterson was out without even trying to run up and down the floor in the opening minutes.
The consensus was that Peterson chickened out of the matchup. The talented guard being fit enough to run around during warmups but not willing to at least try to compete wasn’t received well by the fans or the experts. Some didn’t hesitate to rip Peterson apart on social media.
At the end of the day, he was dealing with flu-like symptoms, not the actual flu. And if he really was that sick, it would have probably been better to stay away from his teammates to avoid the risk of infecting others. But without access to medical details, the full picture remains unclear. But his latest incident stirs his already controversial profile.
Peterson is projected to be a top draft pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Some analysts even have him going at No.1. Without a doubt, he is one of the most exciting prospects this year. But can his future NBA team rely on him? Is he tough enough to play through adversity and showcase loyalty and commitment?
If Peterson wants a remarkable and memorable professional career, he will have to figure out how to outlast inconveniences. Sitting out due to a muscle injury is more understandable than not suiting up because of a cold.
That simply isn’t a good look for somebody who wants to be a superstar in the best league in the world.
The internet was so full of reactions and speculations that Self stepped out and defended Peterson.
“I'm not a social media guy, but I have gotten on X and read some of the things and narratives that are out there about him,” Self said. “But here's the bottom line: Was his hamstring legit? Hell yes. Would you risk injuring it more in November? No. Was his cramping legit? Yes, positively it was. Did he turn his ankle bad to the point where he couldn’t practice for nine days and then practice one day and play BYU? Yes, and that was adrenaline kicking in.”
Not everyone was convinced.
Naturally, the head coach wanted to protect the team and its peace. The last thing that Kansas needs with the grand season finale approaching is division, negativity, and doubts from the outside. However, it has been challenging to convince the audience that the ongoing narrative is just a series of bad luck.
Even load management theories emerged, suggesting Peterson is just saving his body through a demanding collegiate season for his future NBA career. This is something unheard of in college basketball, as teams usually play between 30 and 40 games.
After missing out on the battle with Arizona, Peterson returned to the lineup as Kansas took on No.5 Iowa State on Saturday. The Cyclones held the Jayhawks to just 56 points after their suffocating defense caused major issues for Kansas - Peterson tallied 10 points.
Only time will tell whether Peterson really ran into a bunch of unlucky health issues or had other motives to stay out of the games. With the key part of the season underway, Kansas will need Peterson at his best to make a postseason run and contend for the national title.
But it goes both ways - if Peterson wants to hear his name being called first during the draft in June, in the next month, he will need to showcase and prove he can compete against the best without reservations.