It feels like the same song, second verse, for Darryn Peterson's game against Oklahoma State. The star freshman came out and had an amazing first half, scoring 20 points to help the Jayhawks build a strong second-half lead, but just minutes into the second half subbed himself out due to cramping and never re-entered the game.
Peterson played a whopping three minutes in the second half before leaving the court, finishing the game with a team-high 23 points. Peterson was having what looked like it could be another career night, shooting 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. However, the cramping issue cut it short yet again, and it seems like head coach Bill Self is over it at this point.
"Well, we've had it more than a couple of times, and I didn't anticipate that tonight at all," Self said in his post-game press conference. "I thought he was good to go, but obviously, we only got 18 minutes out of him."
Bill Self on Darryn Peterson:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 19, 2026
"We've had this happen more than a couple of times... I didn't anticipate that tonight at all. I thought he was good to go. We only got 18 minutes out of him. That's disappointing, because he could've had a really big night"pic.twitter.com/kSEqARUN1N
Darryn Peterson is proving he can't be a guy Kansas can count on in March
Self was honest in saying he felt like Peterson could have had a great night against Oklahoma State with 20 points in the first half, and it is disappointing to see him pull himself out. This is something Kansas had hoped it had gotten a hold of, but apparently, it is a problem that will probably linger through the season.
The sad part of it all is that Peterson is proving he isn't reliable for this team. Not in the sense that he can't hit the big shot or make the big play for the Jayhawks, but he can't even be on the court in order to do that. Self even acknowledged that his other players have gotten used ot him not being on the court.
"One thing about it is, it's happened often enough that our guys have learned to play without him, even though that's not the way we want to play," Self said.
At this point, Self needs to make a gameplan for March, knowing that Peterson probably won't be able to give him solid minutes, or else it could be a detrimental end to the season.