KU’s Darryn Peterson? Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd expects him to play in rematch
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Arizona fully expects Darryn Peterson to play Saturday
- KU won Feb. 9 meeting 82-78; Bidunga had 23 points, 10 rebounds
- Arizona can clinch at least a share of the conference crown with a win
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team, ranked ninth in the AP poll at the time, was able to defeat then-No. 1 and undefeated Arizona 82-78 on Feb. 9 at Allen Fieldhouse.
KU won that game without freshman sensation Darryn Peterson. After taking part in a pre-game warmup session, the 6-foot-6 guard indicated he was unable to participate because of flu-like symptoms.
“Obviously last time it kind of was a surprise that he didn’t play. This time we’re fully expecting him to play,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said Thursday at a news conference held in advance of Saturday’s Big 12 battle between the No. 14-ranked Jayhawks (21-7, 11-4) and No. 2 Wildcats (26-2, 13-2). Tipoff is 3 p.m. Central Time (ESPN).
Peterson has missed 11 games this season because of a tight hamstring, cramps, a sprained ankle and an illness and was unable to finish several other contests. But he has played 30 and 32 minutes (against Houston and Cincinnati) in the Jayhawks’ last two games.
“I thought last game, the bits and pieces I was able to watch of him, I thought he looked really good,” Lloyd said. “I thought he moved well. I thought his effort was there.”
Peterson scored 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting (2-of-7 from deep; 2-of-2 from the line) in KU’s 69-56 win over No. 5-ranked Houston on Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“Listen, he’s a really talented player who’s obviously a great competitor,” Lloyd said. “You don’t have the success he’s had without being a great competitor. And I’m sure he’s seeing the end of his only year in college right in front of him. I’m sure he’s going to come out and try to capture that moment and make the most of it. I just don’t see any scenario where they’re not better with him on the floor.”
In this season’s first Kansas-Arizona game, KU sophomore forward Flory Bidunga scored 23 points with 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
“He (Bidunga) was really good at both ends. I thought our team played really spirited and played really hard,” Lloyd said.
Freshman KU forward Bryson Tiller contributed 18 points and eight rebounds while senior guard Melvin Council Jr., had 23 points, six rebounds and six assists. Arizona guard Brayden Burries led the Wildcats with 25 points, while center Motiejus Krivas had 14 points and 15 rebounds and forward Ivan Kharchenkov had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.
“Obviously, Kansas is a really good team. They have crazy high standards in that program,” Lloyd said. “They’re ranked right around the top 10. And for people not to be talking about them like a top 10 team is because they have such high standards. But we know how dangerous they are and we felt how good they were when we were there. Bidunga is definitely a big part of that. He really impacts the game at both ends of the floor.”
KU lost the battle on the glass, 45-41, in the first meeting.
Lloyd, who said the key to competing with KU for rebounds is “to block out, I mean block out,” is hoping homecourt advantage means a lot on Saturday.
Arizona is 14-1 at 14,688-seat McKale Center this season, 6-1 in league games. The team’s only home loss was to Texas Tech, 78-75, in overtime on Feb. 14.
KU is 2-1 all-time in games played in Tucson. The Jayhawks fell 84-67 there on Dec. 23, 2008. But KU won 105-97 there on Dec. 1, 2001 and 78-60 on Dec. 31, 1979.
“Why shouldn’t we match it?” Lloyd said of Arizona fans matching the crazed atmosphere they experienced at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence a couple of weeks ago.
“I hope our fans welcome Kansas and coach (Bill) Self like their fans welcomed me,” he added. “Nothing disrespectful, but they were there for it and that would be great. We know everyone’s been excited about this game for a long time. For us, it’s one of 18 games in your conference schedule and you’re playing at home on a Saturday afternoon, and you want to take advantage of that.”
Arizona can wrap up at least a share of the regular-season conference crown on Saturday by defeating the Jayhawks, who are 4-3 on the road in league games.
“I’m not going to make more of the game than it really is, but yes, our fans need to know that there’s a standard that’s been set for fandom,” Lloyd said. “And you know, Kansas is pretty high up that list. So let’s compete.”
Arizona has won three straight games since suffering back-to-back losses — at KU and at home versus the Red Raiders. KU is 2-2 in its last four contests, losing Saturday games against Cincinnati (84-68 in Lawrence) and at Iowa State (74-56). KU won a Big Monday home game against Houston (69-56) and Wednesday road game at Oklahoma State (81-69).
“They’ve been a little bit up and down,” Lloyd said of KU. “You have to go back and you have to say, ‘Are there reasons they didn’t play well?’ Are they self-inflicted wounds? Are they things that the opponents are doing that maybe they just struggle matching up with for whatever reason?
“You’ve got to look at it on a case-by-case basis. But you also have to understand you are playing a great program with a great coach and what’s going to be a big time atmosphere on Saturday. My expectation is they’re going to come ready to play.”
