Kansas phenom Darryn Peterson just flipped all the negative narratives on their head originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Darryn Peterson was in the game in the most pivotal moments.
And while that might not sound like much for the most talented freshman in the country, it hasn't been the norm this season. On Monday night, the Kansas Jayhawks phenom turned a lot of the negative narratives on their head.
He had just sat out the entire second half in a showcase game against BYU. He's missed time all season with what Kansas has termed cramps. It's been quite the mystery.
The Jayhawks couldn't afford a Peterson absence against Texas Tech in Lubbock on Monday, though. The game was close, and this time, Peterson wasn't going anywhere.
Kansas trailed 59-50 with 6:05 left. Then Flory Bidunga, Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White each scored a basket inside to pull within three.
Texas Tech scored, then Bidunga dunked to keep the deficit three with 2:12 to go.
With 1:20 left, Peterson drilled a 3-pointer, 61-61.
And with 44 seconds left, Peterson pulled from even deeper and was money again, 64-61, the final score.
Peterson played 35 minutes and scored 19 points. It wasn't his most efficient evening (5-14 FG, 3-7 3FG), but it proved something else.
He could be relied upon in the biggest moments, in a battle between two top-15 teams near the top of the Big 12.
If this is the commitment level of Peterson that Kansas gets the rest of the way, the Jayhawks will be very dangerous.