On a positive note, Bill Self can take comfort in knowing his Kansas team won’t be caught off guard if NCAA Tournament time rolls around and No. 1 draft pick Darrin Peterson has to exit the game early—again.
He expressed surprise that his exceptionally talented freshman, once more, had to withdraw due to cramps during the team’s 81-69 victory over the No. 8 Jayhawks on Wednesday.
It was quite strange. After sinking a three-pointer with 17:22 remaining in the second half, Peterson opted to take himself out after playing just 18 minutes.
“I genuinely didn’t see it coming tonight. I thought he was ready to go, but only 18 minutes played? That’s too bad because he could’ve had an outstanding game,” Self mentioned. “The bright side is, it’s become common enough that our players have adapted to playing without him, even though that’s not ideally how we want to operate. But we’ve gotten used to it, I suppose.”
While Peterson is undoubtedly an incredible player and one of the finest in the nation, discussions regarding his availability are intensifying.
In fact, he has appeared in only 15 of the 26 games due to injury, and load management has been a pressing issue in several matchups.
He exited the Baylor game on January 31 in the second half, managed just 24 minutes against Iowa State after sitting out a game prior, and, of course, left early on Wednesday too.
Such comments and discussions are gaining traction, with the TNT crew recently addressing his load management, and ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt weighing in as well.
Self previously defended Peterson against any criticisms, labeling such talk as “nonsense.”
After the win on Wednesday, he noted the cramp issue is a “concern,” adding that Peterson would likely have been sidelined earlier in the second half had he not done so himself.
“We thought we had moved past this, but it’s clear we haven’t,” Self remarked regarding the ongoing issues.
His frustration is understandable; Peterson scored 23 points in that limited time, showcasing just how impactful he can be on the court.
Currently averaging 20 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for a Jayhawks team (20-6) that has recently proven it can still triumph against top-tier teams, as seen in their win over then-No. 1 Arizona without Peterson.
However, for Kansas to pursue an NCAA title seriously, it seems essential for Peterson to spend more than 18 minutes on the court.
“In the NCAA Tournament, you face teams that are as skilled as you are, so having all your best players is critical,” Self commented. “A situation like this can derail not just a game but a whole season. It’s worrying, but I have faith that we’re making strides.”
