yahoo - 2/14/2026 5:30:48 PM - GMT (+2 )
The recurring question of the season surrounding Kansas basketball has become the availability of freshman star Darryn Peterson.
The projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has missed 11 games this season for the Jayhawks, including missing the Monday, Feb. 9 win over No. 1 Arizona. Questions have been raised about Peterson's presence on the team's bench against the Wildcats, despite being listed out due to flu-like symptoms.
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When the freshman guard has seen action this year, he has been fantastic: In 13 games this season, he is averaging 20.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 48.9% shooting.
Here's the latest on Peterson's playing status as the Jayhawks go for their second top-five victory of the week:
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said on Thursday, Feb. 12, was hopeful Peterson would be available "full speed" to play against No. 4 Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 14, while also dispelling narratives about his playing status this season.
“Is he better today? Yeah, he was out there yesterday,” Self said. “Was he full speed? No. Was he full speed today? No. I’m hoping he can be closer to full speed tomorrow, and hopefully, he can be full speed on Saturday. But that’s what he’s dealing with, and it’s a lot, I would think, when you’re 19 years old and you’re dealing with everybody having a narrative about everything that’s going on.
"Or, you’re sitting on the bench, and you’ve got heat warmers on your legs or whatever, and now everybody’s got a narrative about a heat warmer. I mean, come on. But that’s what he’s dealing with, and that’s the world he’s getting ready to enter. But the narratives haven’t been accurate.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson play vs Iowa State? What to know
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