Allen Fieldhouse shook when the Kansas Jayhawks stunned then-No. 1 Arizona Wildcats on Feb. 9, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season. Head coach Bill Self, not known for emotional displays, hugged players on the court as if a championship had just been won. The Jayhawks did it without freshman star Darryn Peterson, a projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, who was sidelined with flu-like symptoms.
The 82-78 victory without its leading scorer underscored the strange arc of Kansas’ season. With the No. 2 Houston Cougars looming and Selection Sunday approaching, the No. 8 Jayhawks remain a contender. But the uncertainty surrounding Peterson’s availability continues to shape their ceiling.
Peterson has missed 11 of Kansas’ 27 games. In seven of his 16 appearances, he has played fewer than 25 minutes due to hamstring and ankle injuries, as well as persistent cramping. His playing time of 27.2 minutes per game trails other top NBA prospects such as BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer, both of whom average more than 30 minutes. If selected No. 1 overall, Peterson would join the Cincinnati Bearcats’ Kenyon Martin and Duke Blue Devils’ Kyrie Irving as the only top picks since 2000 to miss more than 10 college games.
Self, in his 23rd season at Kansas with two national championships and 644 wins, has been open about the challenges he faces.
“He’s great, but I have told [Peterson], in all honesty, ‘Have I really had a chance to coach you yet?’” Self said. “Have I had a chance to say, ‘Hey, this is totally unacceptable. This is how we’re doing it.’ Have I had a chance to really make points to him?”
Despite Peterson’s absence, Kansas has posted a solid 9-2 record in his absence, building team chemistry through these tough times. The Jayhawks are a top-10 defensive team and are only plus-0.7 points per 100 possessions better offensively when Peterson is on the floor, according to EvanMiya. Flory Bidunga has thrived in those stretches, posting nine of his 11 double-doubles in games Peterson either missed or played limited minutes.
Yet Peterson’s talent is undeniable. He is shooting 41.3% from 3-point range. Few players in recent memory have matched his scoring efficiency.
Before the season, Peterson said he wanted to elevate Kansas. “I think I bring a leader and a hard worker,” he said at Big 12 media day. “Hopefully, I can try to bring those guys to a standard.”
Now, with postseason pressure building, he understands the concerns but remains resolute.
“Let’s do it,” Peterson said when asked about his message to Kansas fans worried about March. “That’s the goal.”
Kansas’ identity is still evolving. Self knows that building continuity takes time. The coming weeks will determine whether the Jayhawks’ unpredictable season becomes a cautionary tale or the foundation for another deep March run. Kansas is coming off an 84-68 loss to unranked Cincinnati on Saturday, the worst home loss to an unranked team during Self’s tenure.
Kansas (20-7, 10-4 Big 12) hosts Houston (23-4, 11-3) at 9 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN and the ESPN app.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.