As the 2025-26 basketball season begins to take shape and coaches across the country are finding their best teams, the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks are in one of the most interesting predicaments in the country. While the former No. 1 recruit has compiled jaw-dropping moments, Darryn Peterson’s injury concerns have overshadowed the work he is doing on the court.
To quickly outline the table of Peterson’s injuries, after scoring 26 points in 25 minutes, Peterson missed a majority of the 90-82 win over Louisville in the Jayhawks’ exhibition win. Head coach Bill Self later commented, ruling that Peterson missed out thanks to a cramping issue. In Kansas’ second exhibition, a 71-35 victory for the Jayhawks, Peterson missed out entirely thanks to what Self clarified as a stomach bug.
In the midst of the Jayhawks’ 94-51 win over the Green Bay Phoenix, Peterson saw the court for 22 minutes, where he notched 21 points. Later, when asked whether Peterson was missing out due to the scoreline or an injury, Self replied,
"Probably a combination, it was bothering him — he said he felt it coming on — so no reason to put him back in—".
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Peterson then posted 22 points in 29 minutes and looked healthy in an 87-74 loss to the No. 18 UNC Tar Heels, but the saga continued as Peterson did not see the court in Kansas’ 77-46 win over Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. Self later revealed that the guard was dealing with a tight hamstring.
Minutes ago, when speaking with the media, Self continued to issue news that fans did not want to hear in that Peterson would not be on the court at all when Kansas takes on Princeton Saturday afternoon.
“He will not play tomorrow. He is still sore, and, for whatever reason, it is still sore, and [we are] trying to figure it out, but we don't think it's a long-term deal at all. But, as long as is sore, he says, and [it] limits him at all, there's no reason to put him out there yet. So that's where we're at.”
Tipoff against the Tigers is set for 1 p.m. CT at Allen Fieldhouse with streaming available on ESPN+.