KU’s Bill Self dismisses ‘load management’ talk regarding Darryn Peterson injury
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Self says Darryn Peterson receives frequent treatment and will rest this week.
- Self rejects "load management" claims, prioritizes full recovery before return.
- KU must adapt rotations in Vegas; Self urges defense, rebounding and ball control.
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self reassured Jayhawk nation Tuesday that injured freshman Darryn Peterson is doing all he can to be available for duty.
Self addressed Peterson’s hamstring injury in his pregame interview on the Jayhawk Radio Network prior to Tuesday’s Champions Classic game against Duke.
The Jayhawks lost 78-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“First of all, Darryn ... the guy is getting treatment four times a day,” Self said.
Peterson missed his third straight game because of what the coach referred to several hours before as a “hamstring strain.”
“I’ve heard people say ‘load management’ or that he could play. No, he can’t, and I’m not going to let him,” Self stated. “I mean, there’s no reason to put him out there and risk making something not serious serious. But it is significant enough that he’ll be reevaluated at the end of the week, and we’ll go from there.
“But he’s doing everything he can,” Self added, noting the McDonald’s All-American still has hamstring tightness.
The No. 24-ranked Jayhawks (3-2) will not practice Wednesday, then begin preparation for the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas. KU will meet Notre Dame on Monday, Syracuse on Tuesday, then a yet-to-be determined opponent on either Wednesday or Thursday.
Even if Peterson becomes healthy, it might be tough to play three games in three or four days.
“I don’t know what Darryn’s status will be in Vegas,” Self said after the loss to the No. 5 Blue Devils. “We think we’ll get him back sooner rather than later. He’s making progress, all that stuff, but until he’s healthy 100% and he’s not feeling pain, we’re not going to put him out there. So hopefully we’ll have him, but I’m not banking on it. We’ve got to go out there and play better without him if we don’t have him.”
Self does not want Peterson to return to full-time practice duty and game action only to aggravate the injury. That’s why he’s insisting Peterson be 100% before he takes the court again, he said.
“It puts some different pressures on us from who is going to score the ball, because we’ve been good at times defensively and rebounding,” Self said. “But we’ve also been going through some struggles like, ‘Where’s the next (basket) coming from?’ I think we are more equipped to play without him. I do.
“With or without Darryn, you’re going to have to play great defense, take care of the ball, rebound, play without fouling. Those are common things that we’ve got to do, with or without and, of course, we wish we had him. But folks, gosh dang. He’s got a slight hamstring strain that’s tight and it feels like it could be injured. And he’s made great progress in the last few days, but I’m not going to put him out there. Put it on me. I’m not going to put him out there to try to win a game in November and risk losing him for a little bit extended period of time. “
Self stressed that when the 6-foot-6, 205-pound Canton, Ohio native returns, “he’ll come back with a fury and we’ll all be happy with that.”
“But right now,” Self continued, “we just need to learn how to play without him a little bit, and it could be the best thing for our team. Guys learn how to accept probably bigger roles, and then when he does come back, hopefully we’re a more prepared team to play.”
