Overview
- Peterson scored 23 points in 18 minutes at Oklahoma State before signaling to come out three minutes into the second half and not returning, with Bill Self citing cramping and calling the short stint disappointing.
- The freshman has appeared in 15 of Kansas’ 26 games and missed 11 due to a hamstring strain, ankle sprain, quad cramping and illness, with multiple early exits in games he did start.
- Self said claims that Peterson is saving himself for the NBA or being load-managed are largely false and emphasized that changing the narrative requires finishing games when his body allows.
- National voices including Stephen A. Smith and Jay Williams questioned Peterson’s reliability for NBA teams, while TNT analysts and an NBA scout highlighted the unusual nature of the situation at a blue-blood program.
- Kansas improved to 20-6 and, per Self, has learned to play without Peterson, yet his unpredictable availability remains a concern for the Jayhawks’ March outlook, with no formal injury designation announced.