The Kansas Jayhawks handled business against Princeton on Saturday, but the postgame conversation quickly shifted away from the court and toward the health of freshman phenom Darryn Peterson. After the game, Bill Self offered a measured but concerning update on Peterson’s status moving forward — and it doesn’t sound like Kansas will have him back anytime soon.
“We’re obviously not going to have him — at least for the immediate future,” Self said. “I just don’t know how long that’ll be.”
This contradicts what was said on Friday about the injury, when Self commented, that the decision to shit Peterson vs. Princeton was precautionary after he reported soreness in the hamstring at a shoot-around earlier this week.
Peterson, one of the highest-rated recruits Kansas has landed under Self, has already flashed star potential early in the season. While Self didn’t provide a firm timeline, the implication is that Kansas is preparing to play multiple games without Peterson, who has wasted no time living up to the hype in his freshman campaign at Kansas. The projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft opened the season with a dazzling debut, scoring 21 points in just 22 minutes during KU’s 94-51 win over Green Bay, showcasing deep shooting range, explosive athleticism, and defensive intensity with two steals and a block. He followed that up with 22 points against North Carolina, hitting 8-of-14 shots and three triples in a tough road loss. He’s averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 60% shooting through his first two games. Simply put, Peterson looks every bit the superstar Kansas fans hoped for, and his ability to score effortlessly while impacting both ends makes him the centerpiece of Bill Self’s squad this season.
For Kansas, the priority is clearly long-term health — especially with Big 12 play looming and expectations sky-high for a team with legitimate Final Four aspirations. Still, losing a dynamic talent like Peterson, even temporarily, will test KU.
Kansas was able to handle Princeton with a 76-57 win, despite only leading by five at halftime. And coming up next, it’s No. 4 Duke in the Champions Classic on Tuesday night, with tip off at 8:00 p.m. CT.
