Kansas fans were ecstatic about freshman Darryn Peterson when the hoops season was tipping off, but that excitement felt like it lasted all of five minutes as the star freshman has dealt with an injury-plagued season to this point.
First, it was the hamstring that kept him out of the lineup for an extended period of time. Then it was a cramping issue, and the latest injury was a severe sprained ankle that he suffered on January 20 against Colorado. That injury kept Peterson out of the first installment of the Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan.
Now, the Jayhawks have back-to-back tough games that they will need Peterson in to give them the best shot at a win. Peterson's availability for the matchup against No. 13 BYU is still up in the air, even though head coach Bill Self believes he will be good to go.
So we are going to err on the side of caution and look at three players that can shoulder the load of the team against No. 13 BYU in case Peterson can't go on the ankle.
Melvin Council Jr.
Melvin Council Jr. has been the flower that has bloomed for Kansas this season, especially whenever Peterson is out of the lineup or off the court. The senior has really come into form for Kansas this season, even if his stats don't fully tell the whole story.
In 20 games this season, Council has averaged 13.7 points per game in his first year with Kansas, along with 4.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Since the start of UCF play, though, Council has certainly found his rhythm. In KU's loss to UCF in Orlando, a game where Peterson played but left early in the second half with an injury, Council scored 20 points, the majority of them coming in the second half.
In the last two games, Council has gone off for 17 and 18 points against Kansas State and Colorado. Council certainly was the difference maker against the Wildcats in Manhattan. Not only can he finish at the basket, but he also has great vision of the court to set up those around him.
Flory Bidunga
Flory Bidunga is the big man down low that Kansas needs on the court as much as possible. The sophomore forward is averaging 14.4 points per game, but he is getting it done on the board with 9.0 per game as well as averaging 2.7 blocks per game as one of the best shot blockers in college basketball.
Bidunga has nearly doubled his time on the court from his first season with KU last year, and it is showing the difference he makes. Bidunga is the solid presence under the basket for Kansas and knows how to get leverage against his defender. Defensively, he is also averaging 6.3 rebounds, meaning he isn't allowing multiple possessions for opposing teams.
Bryson Tiller
Bryson Tiller may be one that some are scratching their heads about, especially when you see that he only averages 8.4 points per game. However, this freshman could be some of the answers for BYU's AJ Dybantsa. The star BYU forward is going to match up a lot down low with KU's bigs, and Tiller has the size to help bring him down.
Tiller has 5.8 rebounds a game and 1.4 blocks a game, and against Kansas State, he broke out with 16 points, his first double-digit game since Big 12 play started. He was 6-for-8 from the floor and when a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
When Bidunga can't go, Tiller is certainly the next man up, and he is starting to get more and more comfortable on the court.