LAWRENCE
Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson followed his 32-minute performance against Cincinnati on Saturday with a 30-minute outing against No. 5-ranked Houston on Monday night.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound native of Canton, Ohio, had no problems regarding the cramping issue that’s plagued him much of his one-and-done season at KU.
“Good. I’m feeling good,” Peterson said after scoring 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting (2-of-7 from 3) with four rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in the No. 14-ranked Jayhawks’ 69-56 victory over the Cougars.
There was one moment in the game in which it looked as if Peterson might be affected by the cramping issue.
He left with 9:36 left and, after sitting on the bench, placed a wrap on his thigh. Instead of sitting the rest of the game, however, he discarded the wrap and returned at 6:57.
Peterson said he never doubted he’d return to this contest if his coach, Bill Self, wanted him back on the court.
Of course he did.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) gets back on defense during the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Houston Cougars on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Dominick Williams [email protected]
“It’s up to coach, for real,” Peterson said of his amount of second-half minutes Monday.
Of why he put the wrap on his thigh, he said: “I put them on every time I come out — the leg things.”
Peterson was asked about a stretch in the second half in which Houston guard Kingston Flemings hit a step back jumper in the paint guarded by Peterson. It cut KU’s lead to 49-39 with 10:54 to play. Peterson came down and drained a 3 on the ensuing possession to make it 52-39.
Self said something to Peterson after his 3.
“It was too loud, I’m not going to lie. I tried to read his lips,” Peterson said of his coach’s orders. “It was probably, ‘Just get back to playing defense.’”
Self remembered the sequence.
“Guard,” is what Self told Peterson. “I think that he was good tonight and he stretches the floor and does different things that allow other people to have space and stuff like that. But the one thing about it is I still think that he can be a much better defender. And I think the time that Kingston scored on him, he backed off of it. And so that was probably what I was saying to him.”
Self said he wanted Peterson “on the ball (Monday) in case we wanted to play behind the ball-screen traps. He was great. His attitude was great and hopefully he felt well. And I think he talked to you guys, but hopefully he felt well, and it’ll be a great way to move forward.”
Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) shoots a 3-pointer in the second half vs. the Houston Cougars on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Dominick Williams [email protected]
Self said “this was a big step in the right direction. Having Darryn out there the vast majority of time and finishing the game (was great).”
After the final horn and the handshake line, Peterson raced with his teammates to an ESPN announcer for a postgame interview with the entire team.
“It was electric in there today,” Peterson said. “Part of the reason why we came to Kansas was to play in this environment.”
That stage has also come with national chatter and speculation over his various ailments. Peterson was asked about how he’s dealt with being in the national conversation this season.
“I’ve kind of been an antisocial loner my whole life,” Peterson said. “So I kind of just deal with it on my own. Somebody has had something to say probably after every game this year. I don’t really pay attention to it anymore.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
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Gary Bedore
The Kansas City Star
Gary Bedore covers KU basketball for The Kansas City Star. He has written about the Jayhawks since 1978 — during the Ted Owens, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Bill Self eras. He has won the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year award and KPA writing awards.
