Kansas basketball coach Bill Self previews Jayhawks’ game against BYU
Check out everything Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had to say this week ahead of a game Saturday at home against BYU in Big 12 play.
LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has made it clear to reporters that this weekend’s game against BYU is about the team trying to get a win, not a one-on-one matchup between two high-profile prospects.
As much as people have talked about KU freshman Darryn Peterson and BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa matching up, it’s not what Self said he’s focused on. It’s not what Self thinks he’s players should be focusing on, a game between two potential No. 1 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. And he would imagine that the Cougars are going to be saying the same thing, ahead of Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. (CT)-scheduled tip-off inside Allen Fieldhouse.
But before No. 14 KU (15-5, 5-2 in Big 12) faces off against No. 13 BYU (17-3, 5-2), in this Big 12 Conference matchup, Peterson’s injury status remains a significant headline. Peterson missed the recent rivalry game for Kansas against Kansas State with an ankle injury. And according to Self, it doesn’t appear that absence will stretch beyond that game.
“I expect him to,” said Self, asked Thursday about Peterson being able to play against BYU. “I haven’t seen him in person since Tuesday, so yesterday was a day off and then we’re getting ready to obviously practice right after this. But, I anticipate him being ready to go.”
Peterson has only played in 10 games so far this season, with injury issues dating back to non-conference play. However, in the time he’s been able to be on the court with his teammates he’s averaged 21.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per games. He’s shot effectively from all areas of the court, and as he’s become more of a regular part of the starting lineup he and his teammates have learned how to better play with each other without losing the aggressiveness on both ends that will allow the team to reach its ceiling.
Kansas has also only lost once so far this season inside Allen Fieldhouse, against now-No. 3 UConn, and Jayhawks nation will be dialed in for this matchup. Odds are KU will be favored ahead of tip-off. If not, risking going against Self, Peterson and the rest of the KU program in Lawrence could be considered a problematic decision.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
