Bill Self Gives the Latest Update on Darryn Peterson
Freshman guard Darryn Peterson left Kansas’ game against NC State early on Saturday with about two minutes to play in the second half. He did not return to the floor as the Jayhawks pulled off a 77-76 win in overtime.
What’s the latest on Peterson’s status, and will he be able to play on Tuesday against Towson?
“I have no idea,” Kansas coach Bill Self told reporters on Monday. “I don’t know. We didn’t practice yesterday. I just saw him in the hallway and he’s going to lift right now with the guys. So we’ll practice later. But obviously he had some, not hamstring based on what I was told, but some quad cramping there. To me, you guys saw the game, it was evident to me he wasn’t moving at the pace that he’s got to move at the way people are going to guard him and that stuff. So it was obviously bothering him.”
Self was later asked if Peterson had just the quad cramping, and not an aggravation of the hamstring strain he’s battled since the preseason:
“I have not heard the word hamstring one time,” Self said. “So that’s coming from our medical staff. It’s got to get addressed, and it hasn’t obviously yet. And I know it’s so frustrating for him, because he gets out there and he just can’t move. And if you can’t move like you’re normally moving, then you become cautious to try to move. And we’ve got to figure that out and we certainly haven’t done it yet.”
Peterson first missed time due to the hamstring in the Louisville exhibition game, playing limited second half minutes. Peterson sat out the following exhibition game vs. Fort Hays State. On opening night, Peterson returned to the floor vs. Green Bay, but the guard was once again limited in the second half.
The freshman guard played his first full regular season game against North Carolina on Nov. 7, scoring 23 points and dishing out three dimes in 28 minutes. However, after that contest, Peterson went on to miss seven-straight games before returning to Kansas’ lineup against Missouri.
Peterson played 31 minutes against NC State before being taken out. He had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. In the four games Peterson’s played, the guard is averaging 19.3 points and 2.8 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. The Jayhawks will need the potential No. 1 pick on the floor to reach their ceiling.
The After Dark crew discussed this situation in depth last night.
Kansas and Towson will tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.
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