Fans’ nightmare might be coming true! After limping off the court during Saturday’s overtime win against NC State, all eyes turned to the No. 17-ranked Kansas Jayhawks‘ star freshman Darryn Peterson. Questions swirled about whether the guard would be available for upcoming games, especially after already missing significant time this season due to hamstring tightness. And according to the latest updates from Lawrence, Peterson is set to sit out the Jayhawks’ matchup against the Towson Tigers. But why?

The potential No. 1 NBA draft pick, Peterson, who has quickly become an important piece of Kansas’ rotation, will miss the matchup due to a lingering quad issue that surfaced over the weekend and worsened during practice.

“Darryn experienced cramping in his quad against NC State on Saturday and felt similar in practice yesterday,” head coach Bill Self said in an update ahead of the upcoming game. “He is not able to compete at full strength. He will not play tonight against Towson. He will continue to work tirelessly and prepare to compete with his teammates and represent Kansas in the very near future.”

While the decision appears to be precautionary, with Self emphasizing long-term health over pushing Darryn Peterson back prematurely, his absence will force Kansas to adjust its rotation on short notice, particularly in the backcourt, as they will look to handle business without one of its promising young contributors.

His absence extends a frustrating pattern this season. The 6‑foot‑5 guard and preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year has missed multiple games due to a combination of hamstring tightness and cramping, often forcing Kansas to manage his minutes cautiously to avoid further setbacks.

Out of the 11 games that the Jayhawks have played so far in the ongoing NCAA season, Peterson has only played 4.

As one of the nation’s top recruits and a projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Peterson has shown elite scoring and playmaking ability when on the court, including appearances where he dropped 22 points in limited minutes.

However, these constant starts and stops due to injury have made his availability unpredictable, and Self has repeatedly emphasized that his long-term health takes priority over short-term returns.

Throughout their matchups, the Jayhawks have demonstrated that they can hold down the fort without Darryn Peterson, as they are averaging 74.8 points per game offensively while holding their opponents to just 64.8 points.

For now, with Big 12 play approaching, Kansas will aim to build consistency on both ends of the floor, ensuring Peterson is at 100% before reintroduction.

However, this lingering issue has kept the team from being fully healthy, something that the fans are craving to see.

How will Kansas adjust its rotation without Darryn Peterson?

With Darryn Peterson sidelined, the Jayhawks will need other players to step up, and that’s where sophomore guards Jamari McDowell and Elmarko Jackson come in, expected to see increased minutes.

Whereas Sophomore forward Flory Bidunga and senior guard Tre White will need to stay disciplined and avoid foul trouble, something that has been inconsistent at times this season and has affected the team’s depth.

Despite these challenges, Kansas remains the clear favorite against mid-major Towson, with ESPN predicting a 95.4% win probability for the Jayhawks, giving them a matchup they should be able to navigate even without their star freshman.

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Looking ahead, we have to wait and see if Peterson could be available for Kansas’ next game on Monday, Dec. 22, at home against the Davidson Wildcats.

However, given how carefully the program has managed his health this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if he sits out again to ensure he’s fully ready for Big 12 play starting in January, when the No. 17-ranked team will lock horns with the No. 4-ranked Iowa State Cyclones.

And against the No. 10-ranked BYU Cougars and the No. 19-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders in February.

However, at least for now, this game will offer an opportunity for other players to step into bigger roles and for Kansas to fine-tune its chemistry before the season’s most challenging stretch.