Why KU freshman phenom Darryn Peterson didn’t play in Tuesday’s exhibition game
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU held freshman Darryn Peterson out of exhibition start with illness.
- Coach Bill Self cited recurring leg cramps and a minor bug affecting play.
- KU started Elmarko Jackson in Peterson’s spot while staff monitor recovery.
Freshman phenom Darryn Peterson didn’t play in Kansas basketball’s exhibition matchup against Fort Hays State on Tuesday.
“Ever since the second half at Louisville (Friday), he just hadn’t felt well,” Kansas coach Bill Self said in his pregame radio interview. “He’s not really cramping, but he’s got a little bug or something. He won’t start tonight. I don’t know how much he’ll play, if at all.”
Indeed, Peterson didn’t play any minutes Tuesday.
He was seen sitting on KU’s bench in street clothes before the game. In his place, KU started Elmarko Jackson.
“He’s dealing with cramping stuff and not feeling well physically,” Self said postgame. “He’s talked to the docs. He’ll get that handled. Hopefully, he will be full speed here in a couple of days.”
Self spoke about Peterson’s cramping problem Monday. The freshman played only 10 minutes in the second half of an exhibition game against Louisville on Friday.
Peterson still finished that game with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Of those 26 points, 24 came in his 15 first-half minutes.
Peterson practiced Sunday but not Monday morning due to cramps.
“I don’t want to say he’s perfectly fine yet,” Self said Monday. “It’s been something that’s been bothering him off and on for a while. ... The way he played the first half, you definitely want him out there the second.”
According to Self, Peterson struggled to move due to the cramping at halftime of that win at Louisville.
“I don’t think that we have quite remedied the situation yet, and that’s going to be a big deal if your best player can’t finish games because of cramping or whatever it would be,” Self said. “So we’ve got to figure that out.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Why KU freshman phenom Darryn Peterson didn’t play in Tuesday’s exhibition game."
