Checking KU Jayhawks’ team chemistry as Darryn Peterson story continues to unfold
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Self says team chemistry stayed strong despite Darryn Peterson’s absences.
- Peterson missed 11 games with cramps, ankle, hamstring, quad issues and illness.
- Self points to jokes, arguments then joking afterward as chemistry proof.
Freshman Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball star Darryn Peterson has missed 11 games this season due to a variety of health issues, but that hasn’t seemed to affect the team’s chemistry.
Those health concerns are ongoing. Peterson cramped up against Oklahoma State this week, prompting him to exit Wednesday night’s game in Stillwater, Okla., just three minutes into the second half.
He played just 18 minutes against OSU yet still managed to score 23 points. Peterson during the 2025-26 season has experienced not only cramping issues, but also a sprained ankle, a hamstring strain, a separate quad issue and an illness.
Asked if Peterson’s on-and-off availability to date has affected the team’s chemistry, KU coach Bill Self said it has not.
“I think this team really likes each other,“ Self said Friday. “I think that we are getting more and more comfortable with each other and understanding each other and the talents of each respective guy.
“The thing about it is that so much has been made of DP, but I don’t believe much has been made of that with our guys. Our guys like Darryn and Darryn likes our guys. However it’s spun, it’s spun, but I do think it’s a close team.”
Self noted signs that show him this team is a close one.
“Guys that will actually get on each other,” he said. “Guys that smile when they play, and off the court, after you eat a meal, do 12 guys sit around and BS after the meal is over, as opposed to getting back to their room. There’s a lot of subtle things that happen. Can they as a group make fun of me and joining in on the fun and that kind of stuff ...
“Can they make of each other and not take it personally? To me, those are signs of team that (has) pretty good chemistry.”
Self noted that KU guard Melvin Council and KU big man Paul Mbiya got into an argument during practice and almost got into a fight — but not really.
“Afterward, Melvin (went) up to Paul saying,’ See, I’d beat you right now,’” Self recalled with a chuckle. “Paul is going, ‘You’re a gnat on my back,’ but is just joking around. Which is the way I think it should be.”
This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
