Eighth-ranked Kansas secured a blowout victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night, but the win was overshadowed by another early exit from star guard Darryn Peterson. Peterson, a projected high NBA draft pick, showed flashes of his elite talent by scoring 23 points, including 20 in the first half, to help build a double-digit lead.
However, after hitting a three-pointer in the second half, Peterson immediately requested to be substituted and did not return to the game. Head coach Bill Self expressed disappointment, noting they had anticipated he was "good to go" but only received 18 minutes of play from him.
Peterson's season has been marred by persistent injuries and illness, causing him to miss 11 games due to issues including a hamstring strain, ankle sprain, and flu-like symptoms. His latest unexplained exit raises further concerns about his availability as Kansas faces a tough closing schedule against top-ranked opponents Houston and Arizona.
Despite the inconsistency from their star, the Jayhawks maintain a 20-6 record. With only five regular-season games remaining before the highly competitive Big 12 tournament, time is running out for Peterson to return to full strength.