It is hard to imagine that the 2025-26 college basketball season is reaching its conclusion, yet after a blur of four months, it is time to buy up heartburn medicine, as within a few weeks, the nation will have a newly-crowned national champion.
With each passing game, it becomes more and more difficult to invest many stocks in the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks. It is just a natural result of dropping four of your last six games.
Of course, most who have released their previews of the NCAA Tournament’s favorites usually finish their KU subsection with something along the lines of “Are you really going to count out Bill Self and Darryn Peterson?” As a sort of insurance policy, because no one is really sure if the Jayhawks have really reached their peak so far this season.
Peterson’s freshman campaign has seen it all, and now faces a big question
Peterson has faced nationwide criticism for his injury issues, which have largely revolved around cramping and have forced him to play only 30+ minutes in 10 games this season. However, things have taken an upward tick as the former five-star has put up 30+ minutes in each of the Jayhawks’ last four games.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo recently compiled an article posing nine questions for the nation’s top nine freshmen.
“Amid the public negativity, scouts and execs I've talked to have consistently emphasized the need for patience, as there won't be a full referendum on his health until NBA teams receive his medical reports at the combine,” quotes Woo.
Peterson has missed eleven of KU’s 30 games, with the aforementioned cramps, hamstring tightness, illness, and a poorly timed sprained ankle.
“There remains a lot of NBA support for Peterson as the draft's most talented prospect, but his freshman season has added complexity to the decision at No. 1. Draft night will ultimately come down to the risk tolerance of whichever team wins the lottery and how that team views Peterson's trajectory.”
There is little time for Peterson to establish himself as a KU legend, but now is the time to turn up the heat.
The ending of Peterson’s chapter can still end in something great
Over the course of the season, the Prolific Prep alum has managed 19.5 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, on a 44.5% field goal rate, in just an average of 27.9 minutes.
The Jayhawks will take on archrivals, Kansas State, this Saturday, at 1 p.m. CT, in an attempt to cap off a poor end of the season with a potential top-four finish in the Big 12, leading to an all-important double bye in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.
Streaming can be found on CBS.
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