‘A bad (expletive)’: Darryn Peterson silenced Texas Tech crowd with clutch 3s
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Darryn Peterson hit two clutch 3s in final 90 seconds to lift Kansas to 64-61 win.
- Peterson battled poor first-half rhythm to finish with 19 points.
- Hostile Texas Tech crowd taunted Peterson, who stayed composed; he’s likely No. 1 pick.
Late in the first half of Monday’s game between No. 11 Kansas and No. 13 Texas Tech, the hostile crowd inside United Supermarkets Arena chanted an original — and unforgettable — message toward KU freshman Darryn Peterson.
As the struggling Peterson stood at the free-throw line, fans clapped and yelled in unison: “He’s a (coward).”
Now, replace that parenthetical with another two-syllable word.
The chant appeared to be in reference to Peterson’s cramping issues, which have limited him for much of the year and kept him from finishing all but one game.
That is, until Monday.
“When he came up to the locker room, I said, ‘You’re a bad mother(expletive),’” KU center Flory Bidunga said postgame. “Excuse my language. I’m sorry.”
It was that kind of night for Peterson, whose reaction to the chants set the mood for his grand finale.
In the moment, Peterson nodded, smiled and took in the scene. It was the only acknowledgment he gave the rowdy fans in Lubbock, Texas, in KU’s 64-61 come-from-behind win.
He didn’t even react when, down to the final 90 seconds, he tied the score at 61-all with a contested 3-pointer from the right corner. He then hit another 3 to give KU a 3-point lead with 44 seconds left.
The Jayhawks (17-5, 7-2 Big 12) had trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half.
“He’s got something that I guess you are born with and can’t teach,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “He’s got just an unbelievable ability to ... raise that level when it counts the most. That’s what he did tonight.”
To say Peterson didn’t have it for most of the night would be an understatement. He looked out of rhythm all first half. At times, it appeared as if he was more focused on drawing contact than trying to score.
His shot selection — even for a player of his caliber — dipped. He scored 11 first-half points, but shot just 3-for-10 to get there. And he was 0-for-2 in a largely quiet second half before the final 90 seconds.
But then ...
“He makes big shots,” KU guard Melvin Council said. “His name is ‘Bucket Jones.’ If your name is ‘Bucket Jones,’ you better live up to it.”
He did.
Peterson, considered the No. 1 prospect in next year’s draft, has drawn lofty NBA comparisons. Some even call him the college version of Kobe Bryant.
Those comparisons might be optimistic. But Monday’s finish at Texas Tech (16-6, 6-3) was Bryant-esque.
Peterson ended with 19 points in 35 minutes. He was the only player to score in the final two minutes.
And about those chants? Well, Peterson took the high road after the win.
“Nah,” Peterson said. “I didn’t hear anything.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2026 at 12:43 AM.
