Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson only played 18 minutes against Oklahoma State and was still the leading scorer for the Jayhawks with 23 points. After a fantastic first half, going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc, Peterson was on the court for just three minutes in the second half before subbing out.
It was seen that Peterson hit a three-pointer, his sixth of the night, to give himself 23 points, and then immediately looked to head coach Bill Self on the bench and took himself out of the game. Peterson never returned to the court, citing that it was due to the cramping issue he had dealt with all season.
On the same night, Arkansas star freshman Darius Acuff Jr. went off for 49 points vs. Alabama, and after the game, Razorbacks head coach John Calipari updated the media that Acuff was in a walking boot for two days prior.
Calipair even told Acuff he may have to miss the game against the Crimson Tide, and his response was one that is a really bad look for Peterson.
"Are you nuts?" Acuff said.
John Calipari reveals postgame that Darius Acuff was in a walking boot for two days prior to tonight's 49-point effort 😳
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 19, 2026
"I said, you think you might have to miss this game? And Darius said, 'Are you nuts?'"
(🎥: @HawgBeat) pic.twitter.com/s0KvrAdegu
Darryn Peterson and Darius Acuff Jr. clearly havent two different playing mindsets
Both Darryn Peterson and Darius Acuff are projected to be premier picks in the 2026 NBA Draft; however, Peterson is projected to go No. 1 overall, while Acuff is a projected lottery pick. However, Acuff isn't limiting his play this season in order to make sure his draft stock stays high, where, at this point, it is pretty clear that Peterson is doing just that.
Acuff was in a walking boot for two days, but that wasn't stopping him from playing against Alabama, and he had no clue if he was going to have a big game or not. Peterson was in the middle of playing a massive game for Kansas and decided to pull himself.
Acuff is proving to his team he is someone they can count on, no matter what, while Peterson is proving the opposite, and it really isn't a good look.