Bill Self calls out reporter over Darryn Peterson's health: 'You sound like you bet on the game' originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Kansas delivered one of the best wins of the college basketball season Monday night, outlasting No. 1 Arizona 82-78 at Allen Fieldhouse. But as the Jayhawks celebrated, much of the postgame conversation centered on the absence of star guard Darryn Peterson.
Kansas coach Bill Self said Peterson was ruled out shortly before tipoff due to what the program labeled as “flu-like symptoms,” a decision that had been trending since Sunday. Self acknowledged the Jayhawks hoped Peterson would be able to play, but his condition never improved enough.
“We don’t know if it’s the flu, it’s flu-like symptoms. At least that’s what I’ve been told,” Self said. “We were hoping adrenaline would kick in today, but he just didn’t feel great.”
Peterson’s absence was particularly surprising because he was never listed on the pregame availability report. Self said there was no gamesmanship involved, explaining the staff genuinely believed Peterson might be able to go until shortly before the opening tip against the Arizona Wildcats.
“You sound like you bet on the game,” Self added. “But there was no ploy with that at all.”
Bill Self on Darryn Peterson's illness:
"We thought he'd go. I thought adrenaline would kick in and he would go. He was out there at shootaround. But you could just tell he didn't feel great."
(🎥: @kmbc) pic.twitter.com/SLOLwahqOw
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 10, 2026
The situation intensified when a viral sideline video appeared to suggest tension between Peterson and the coaching staff. Kansas Athletics quickly refuted that narrative, saying the individual who sent the text was an ESPN-contracted statistics worker with no affiliation to the program.
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Peterson’s health has been a recurring storyline this season for the Kansas Jayhawks. The freshman is averaging 20.5 points per game and has flashed superstar ability, but availability issues have repeatedly disrupted his rhythm.
Even without him, Kansas proved it can still beat the nation’s best.
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