While some were worried about him not playing against Kansas State, it turns out the Kansas Jayhawks didn't need Darryn Peterson's services against the Wildcats as they cruised to an 86-62 win in Manhattan. This was the first win the Jayhawks had in Manhattan in three years and it truly felt like a breakthrough for this team.
After struggling on the road early in Big 12 play, especially with Peterson's injury issues, the Jayhawks were able to go 2-0 on the road this past week against Colorado and Kansas State. Peterson was held out of the contest against Kansas State due to a sprained ankle, but with the extra time between games, it seems like he should be good to go against No. 13 BYU, according to head coach Bill Self.
"I think they'll play. I don't know for a fact, I'm not a doctor, but I think he'll play," Self said after the win over Kansas State. "That game will obviously mean a lot to a lot of people."
It was announced before the Jayhawks took the court against the Wildcats that College GameDay will be in Lawrence at Allen Fieldhouse for the huge No. 13 vs. No. 14 matchup between BYU and Kansas.
Darryn Peterson's return ensures major freshman matchup against BYU's AJ Dybantsa
Kansas's matchup against BYU is more than a ranked matchup with College GameDay present, but it will feature one of the best freshmen in the country. It is clear that Peterson is one of the best, if not the best, players in the country, as he is currently projected as the No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick in 2026; however, BYU's AJ Dybantsa is coming in as a close second.
On Saturday against Utah, Dybantsa broke the BYU freshman scoring record with 43 points, going 15-for-24 from the floor for his first 40-point game of the season. He certainly will be a tough one for Kansas to cover, but Peterson will bring his own challenges for BYU.
This is one of the most anticipated matchups in the Big 12 this season, and it doesn't even feature a Top 10 team. Both Peterson and Dybantsa should garner a lot of attention, especially from NBA scouts in the stands.
Even though Peterson has battled injuries this season, the extra rest from not playing against Kansas State and there being a week between games should give him enough time to recover, so this matchup is as electric as people expect it to be.