KU’s Darryn Peterson details injury struggles in first interview since November
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Peterson says recovery is gradual after cramps, hamstring and quad setbacks.
- He missed nine of 17 games and has yet to play a full game this season.
- Coach Self confirmed cramps limited Peterson despite his 16-point performance.
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson continues to get closer and closer to full health.
But he’s still not there yet.
That was one of the takeaways from Tuesday night’s media session. Peterson, who scored 16 points in 27 minutes of an upset win over No. 2 Iowa State, spoke to media members for the first time since November
“I felt pretty good today,” he said.
The Jayhawks did, too, blowing out No. 2 Iowa State 84-63 in one of the team’s most complete performances of the season. Peterson added five rebounds before exiting for good with 5:45 left and the Jayhawks up 23.
Coach Bill Self confirmed after the game that Peterson’s early exit was due to cramps, not the game’s margin.
“He told me, ‘I can go if you really need me,’ which tells me no,” Self said. “It wasn’t bad. He was like, ’If you don’t need me out there, I’m not moving as good as I was earlier. Let somebody else finish it off.’
“It wasn’t a bad, ‘I’m cramping.’ It was more like, ‘I’m not quite whole right now.’”
Peterson’s media session was equally illuminating. His last time speaking to reporters was after a nonconference game against UNC on Nov. 7.
“I’m feeling better,” Peterson said Tuesday night. “It’s coming back slowly to me. I was out for a while, but every game I feel like it’s getting better.”
The projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick has yet to play a full game of college basketball — that is, without exiting early due to injury or cramping. He’s also missed nine contests out of 17.
Those absences have been for a number of health issues, including preseason cramping, a hamstring strain, a separate quad issue and even illness.
Peterson has maxed out at 32 minutes so far in what’s been a frustrating year.
“It was definitely frustrating because I want to be out there with my guys, I want to be out there for Coach and also for myself at the end of the day,” Peterson said. “It is what it is. I’ve got to just keep going forward, get better every day. That’s all I can ask for.”
One thing that was different Tuesday: Peterson attempted a number of poster dunks against the No. 2 Cyclones. He said he may not have been capable of those attempts in other games, adding it’s a sign his burst is returning.
“I felt pretty good today,” he said. “I probably felt better (last week against) TCU. It’s a battle every day, and I’m going to keep getting better.”
That, of course, is the hope for both Peterson and KU (12-5, 2-2 Big 12). But there’s also a bit of unfamiliarity, as Peterson said he’s never dealt with cramping that has lingered this long before.
So, in the meantime, he’s trying to push himself as hard as he can, he said.
“My goal when I’m out there is to give it all I got,” Peterson said. “If I need to come out, I ask for a sub, because I don’t want to be a sore thumb out there. ... But when I’m out there, I try to go 110(%).”
This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 6:30 AM.
