UPDATE: CBS's Camer Salerno reports that Daryn Peterson will not play and if inactive tonight vs. Duke due to his lingering hamstring injury.
The Kansas Jayhawks are known as one of the best basketball programs in the country, and head coach Bill Self has always been able to attract top-tier talent from anywhere in the country. Self got that when he recruited five-star guard Darryn Peterson to Lawrence, but fans have yet to see his full potential.
Peterson has been out of the Jayhawks' last two games against Princeton and Texas A&M-CC with a lingering hamstring injury, and it could affect his status against the Duke Blue Devils tonight. Self has not given a clear answer yet on Peterson's status, but every Kansas fan right now is jumping the moment they get a notification from ESPN.
Is Darryn Peterson playing today vs. Duke?
The short answer is we don't know. Peterson has yet to be named active or inactive, as this hamstring has plagued the beginning of his college career thus far. If a guess had to be made on Peterson's status based on Kansas head coach Bill Self's comments, then it seems he could be leaning towards not playing.
"We're not obviously going to have him, at least for the immediate future," Self said. "I just don't know how long that will be."
Self went on to say that the injury is more characterized as hamstring tightness, and if the Jayhawks desperately needed him on the floor, he could suit up. However, there is no need to jeopardize the health of a young star just for one game that isn't even a conference game.
Of course, the selection committee come March can take into account all of this, especially if Peterson doesn't play and the Jayhawks fall to the Blue Devils. While it seems Peterson won't suit up, still not having an answer as to his status right now is somewhat of a good sign.
Fans were hoping to see Peterson match up with Duke's top prospect as well, Cam Boozer. If they don't get that tonight, they could very well see it come March on a much bigger stage.