KU basketball hasn’t solved Darryn Peterson’s cramping issue yet. Here’s his status
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Self says Darryn Peterson’s availability for Towson is unclear after exit
- Medical staff report suggests quad cramping, not a recurring hamstring strain
- Peterson has played four games this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.8 rebounds
Kansas coach Bill Self is unsure of freshman star Darryn Peterson’s playing status heading into Tuesday night’s game vs. Towson, Self said Monday.
Peterson exited with about 2:15 left in regulation of KU’s overtime victory over N.C. State on Saturday. Peterson took himself out of the game at that time and did not return.
“I have no idea. I don’t know,” Self said of Peterson’s status. “We didn’t practice (Sunday). I just saw him in the hallway and he’s going to lift right now with the guys, so we will practice later. But obviously, he had some — not hamstring, based on what I was told — but some quad cramping.
“To me, you guys saw the game: It was evident he wasn’t moving at the pace that he’s got to move at when people are going to guard him. ... It was obviously bothering him.”
Peterson scored 17 points with five rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes vs. N.C. State. It was just his second game back after he missed seven games due to a hamstring strain.
It doesn’t appear to be a hamstring issue this time, according to Self.
“I have not heard the word hamstring one time,” Self said. “So that’s coming from our medical staff. It’s got to get addressed, and it hasn’t, obviously, yet. I know it’s so frustrating for him, because he gets out there and he can’t move. You can’t move like you’re normally moving. Then you become cautious to try to move.
“We’ve got to figure that out, and we certainly haven’t done it yet.”
Cramps aren’t a new issue for Peterson — even predating his KU preseason cramping issues.
According to Ryan Bernardi, Peterson’s coach at Prolific Prep, Peterson had a cramp one time in his senior year. It was a toe cramp, but Peterson ate a mustard packet and returned to the game.
Before this season, Peterson had what KU called a “cramping issue,” which limited him in the second half of an exhibition against Louisville and kept him sidelined for a game against Fort Hays State.
Overall, Peterson has played four games this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 12:52 PM with the headline "KU basketball hasn’t solved Darryn Peterson’s cramping issue yet. Here’s his status."
