Kansas’ Darryn Peterson out for Players Era Festival but ‘close’ to returning from hamstring injury

Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has been ruled out for next week’s Players Era Festival, head coach Bill Self told reporters on Friday. No. 24 Kansas is scheduled to play Notre Dame, Syracuse and a potential third game if they advance in the tournament. Kansas is 3-2 in its first five games.

“We’re not going to have Darryn in Vegas,” Self said. “Although we have reevaluated and he’s right there close. But he hasn’t quite done enough to put him in a position to go out and play multiple games in a short span like that. So we’re hopeful he’s running and cutting and doing all those things while we’re in Vegas, but not to the point where he’s probably ready to play.”

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Peterson has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury. When he has played, he has lived up to his No. 2 ranking in the SC Next 100 and his status as a 2026 projected lottery pick. Before going down, Peterson averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists in his first two games. He scored 22 points against North Carolina in an eventual 87-74 defeat on Nov. 7.

Kansas has gone 2-1 in the games Peterson has missed. Sophomore center Flory Bidunga, Illinois transfer Tre White and St. Bonaventure transfer Melvin Council Jr. have led the way in Peterson’s absence.

Bidunga is averaging 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds and is shooting 75% from the floor. White has averaged 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Council has averaged 8.6 points, 5.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds.

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White and Council had their best games as Jayhawks in the 78-66 loss to Duke in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. White, Bidunga and Council combined for 51 of 66 points against the Blue Devils.

The Jayhawks’ next game after the tournament will be against No. 3 UConn on December 3.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/breaking-news/article/kansas-darryn-peterson-out-for-players-era-festival-close-to-returning-from-hamstring-injury-204020010.html

Author : Tarohn Finley

Publish date : 2025-11-21 20:40:00

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