Bill Self gives an update on Darryn Peterson after Towson
Darryn Peterson missed his eighth game of the season against Towson on Tuesday. The Jayhawks won comfortably without him, dispatching the Tigers 73-49.
Peterson’s injury issues started when he couldn’t finish Kansas’ first exhibition against Louisville. He didn’t play against Fort Hays State before playing in the Jayhawks’ first two regular season games. Peterson would miss the next seven games with a hamstring injury.
Cramping issues return after dealing with hamstring injury
Tuesday’s absence against Towson looks like a return to the cramping issue. Bill Self said Peterson dealt with cramping in the quad against NC State, where Peterson exited in the final two minutes and didn’t appear in overtime. While Peterson did practice leading up to Towson, he wasn’t able to move in the way he needed to.
“He practiced yesterday, but he wasn’t moving like he’s capable of moving in any stretch,” Self said postgame. “Much like the NC State game, much like the Missouri game.”
Self added that Peterson’s body isn’t reacting to what his brain might be saying. He still believes Peterson’s issues are day-to-day, and that Kansas will get through it.
“His brain is telling him to go somewhere and do it at this pace, and his body’s just not reacting to it,” Self said. “We still believe that it’s, you know, on a day to day deal, we still believe that we’ll get through this.”
Kansas has gone through exhaustive measures to try and identify what Peterson’s issues are. Self said Devonte’ Graham dealt with cramps, and it took a while for him to get through them. Everyone has a potential solution, but everyone reacts to treatments differently.
“There’s a lot of things that a lot of people think can do it, but sometimes your body doesn’t react to what, how it reacts to a nephew or uncle in your family,” Self said. “We’ve got to figure it out. But, the best news is, it’s not his hamstring.”
Kansas will be at its best with Peterson at 100% and pieces fitting together
Self said that Kansas will be cautious with Peterson until “he can actually move the way that his brain programs him to move.” The Jayhawks’ next game is in six days against Davidson, but Peterson won’t be rushed back. The team has to play with Peterson at 100%.
“I’m not worried yet,” Self said. “I’m concerned because this team needs to have an extended period of time together. Because it doesn’t work like, well, he practices for two days so he’s ready to go. That’s not how it works. He wouldn’t be able to help us that way. We wouldn’t know how to help him.”
There may be potential silver linings to Peterson’s continued absences. Kansas has developed multiple legitimate offensive options outside of Peterson, with Melvin Council Jr. breaking out for 36 points against NC State.
“I hate going through it, [but] would Melvin find himself if he was deferring all the time,” Self said. “There’s some things that are positive.”
Self said the Jayhawks can be a better team in the future if they’re able to figure out how to put all the pieces together.
“Now, if everybody can fit back in, and Darryn can understand that, hey, these guys can make some plays on their own too, and I can help make it,” Self said. “And then they understand, well, we still gotta, he’s still gotta be our leading scorer. He’s still got to get 15, 17 shots a game. If we can figure that out, and which I think we can, then I think our team will be better in February.”
