Editorial: Darryn Peterson saga frustrating for everyone, including fans

This is a tough one. Everyone was so excited to watch a generational talent play in a Kansas basketball uniform. Instead, it has grown into a feeling of frustration.

Darryn Peterson is so skilled, it is almost beyond belief. Offensively, he's as explosive a college basketball scorer as we've seen in a very long time. In the games he's played in, he's scored 103 points in 128 minutes. That's unheard of.

Unfortunately, he's only played in five of KU's 14 games due to various injuries that include cramps, hamstrings, quads, and calves. I've lost track. In none of those games was he available at the end, when it mattered.

I spent a lot of time early on defending Peterson to other fans. Leg injuries can hinder athletes, especially in basketball, with all the side-to-side movements, the jumping, and the acceleration needed.

As time has progressed, however, it all seems a bit...off. Players play hurt. That's part of the deal. Of course, no one wants the young man to damage himself unnecessarily, but at what point does that become an issue?

Against UCF, he looked terrific. There was no indication anything was wrong as he scored almost at will against the Knights. It was similar to the other games he played in. He looked good in the first half but just disappeared to the bench during the second half.

Darryn Peterson's constantly uncertain status is detrimental to this Kansas basketball team

Head coach Bill Self has been fairly diplomatic throughout the season, if not fully transparent. It's clearly not his fault, and if you pay attention to his answers to questions on the matter, there appear to be some things that are being left unsaid. This, of course, forces people to try to read between the lines, and this is where the frustrations set in for fans.

Michael Swain, of 247Sports, posted a comment by Self on X. One can take from this comment that Peterson's team (and not the one on the front of his jersey) has previously or still is playing a role in his availability, or the lack thereof. Self mentions the family, but it could also be his agent, lawyer, or whoever stands to benefit from Peterson financially.

What seems likely is that no one on Peterson's "team" wants him to risk possible injury that might hurt their golden goose's early NBA draft position and the money that will accompany that draft spot.

Anyone who has played sports knows that aches, pains, and injuries are all part of the game. Anyone can get hurt at any time. That's a fact of life.

It's understandable that Peterson and his "team" want to protect him. That's fine. But it begs the question as to why he even bothered enrolling at Kansas in the first place. If injury was a worry, why bother with college anyway?

The problem is, this current Kansas basketball team is in constant limbo. Peterson is a distraction. When he does play, he isn't available in crunch time, and when he is in the game, his teammates seem content to stay out of his way and watch him get his.

Without Peterson, the Jayhawks have been a joy to watch. They are not the most talented group ever to don the crimson and blue, but they play for each other, and they play with joy, heart, and hustle. Without Peterson, they will win more than they lose, but they might not beat some of the top teams in the conference.

If Peterson had been playing all of this time, the team would have molded around him by now, and it would be a dangerous force. The players have responded well to the distraction and played their rear ends off in his absence. The point is that they shouldn't have to.

Game announcers all mention what a great person Peterson is, that he's coachable, and that he works hard when he's able to. That is all positive. It is frustrating, however, when Peterson looks fine, but by some signal, he gets pulled from the game and spends the rest of it watching from the bench.

Everyone should remember that this is an 18-year-old kid with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. No one should be coming down on him for wanting to protect his future. That said, how is his current situation helping him or Kansas?

He's had weeks to get healthy, and before the UCF game, Self seemed to think Peterson was 100 percent and ready to go. There was no clear indication that he reinjured himself, but there he was at crunch time, having a front-row seat.

What is best for the team right now? Is the distraction and uncertainty worth it for the team going forward? If he ever can play a full game and then be healthy moving forward, can he help the team be more successful?

Everyone wants him on the court, and that probably includes Peterson himself. No one wants him to be hurt or get hurt, but those are the dangers of playing sports. It can happen.

There seem to be three options here. Either KU just continues with the status quo, dealing with his status from game to game, or he can just decide he doesn't want to risk further injuries, and he can step back from the team as a player and sit out the rest of the year.

The first seems untenable for team success. The second seems unlikely, creating a conundrum

Of course, none of us is Bill Self, or Darryn Peterson, or his teammates, or part of his "team." Hopefully, Peterson can get healthy soon and help KU win ball games. That is everyone's fervent wish. If that is not the case, then maybe the decision can be made that will allow fans to enjoy those players who are going out each game and playing their hearts out. Those guys deserve everyone's support. They don't deserve the constant distractions.

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