It was meant to be a perfect match. Instead, the Darryn Peterson–Kansas love story has stumbled right out of the gate. Kansas will once again be without its star point guard as the Jayhawks welcome Davidson to Allen Fieldhouse on Monday.

“No update other than the fact that he will not play tonight,” head coach Bill Self announced through the team’s official X account in a game-day preview video. “He’s not quite there. So that’s where it’s at. We still think positive, but not tonight.”

This will effectively be the ninth game, and the second straight, that the projected lottery pick is set to miss this season for Bill Self’s side, and Jayhawks fans have seen him play inside Allen Fieldhouse for just 22 minutes of game time so far, according to On3 Sports.

It’s been a struggle for Peterson on the injury front from the very start. The guard first missed time with a hamstring strain that forced him out early in Kansas’ exhibition opener against Louisville. He then sat out the next exhibition against Fort Hays State before returning on opening night versus Green Bay, only to be limited again in the second half.

The freshman guard finally played his first full regular-season game against North Carolina on Nov. 7, but another hamstring issue soon followed, forcing him to miss seven straight games. He returned to suit up against Missouri and NC State, only for quad cramps to sideline him again for two more consecutive games, a stretch that has been a major source of frustration for Kansas fans.

That said, despite the cramps, Darryn Peterson has continued to practice with the team and is trending in the right direction, according to Self.

“I think he feels better every day,” Self said Sunday via The Wichita Eagle. “He’s moving better. You see him at 70% and you say, ‘My God, he looks pretty good,’ until you see him at 75, until you see him at 80, until you see him at 85. He’s not perfect by any stretch yet, but he’s gaining on it every day.”

In the four games Peterson has played so far for the Jayhawks, he’s already shown why he’s so highly rated among his peers. He’s averaging 19.3 points and 2.8 assists in just 26.3 minutes per game, and Bill Self will be hoping his star guard is fit and ready to go when Kansas opens Big 12 play against the UCF Knights in January.

So while Peterson waits, who’s stepping up to cover his minutes for Bill Self? Let’s take a look.

Who replaces Darryn Peterson?

The Jayhawks are used to playing without their talisman by now. They’re 9–3 on the season, but all three losses have come against ranked teams, which is where the concern lies. Still, Self knows this group will look very different once Peterson is back. For now, it’s about making the most of what he has and grinding out wins.

One of the players who has really stepped up for the Jayhawks is senior guard Melvin Council Jr. His 36-point performance in the 77–76 overtime win over NC State stands as his highlight of the season so far, and he’s now averaging 13.2 points per game. With Peterson sidelined, getting the best out of Council will be key for Bill Self if Kansas wants to keep winning.

Also expect sophomore guards Jamari McDowell and Elmarko Jackson, along with freshman Kohl Rosario and senior Jayden Dawson, to see their minutes rise with Darryn Peterson still out of the lineup.

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ESPN has Kansas as the heavy favorites with a 99.5% chance to win, and that comes as no surprise to anyone. But Bill Self also knows the bigger picture. If the Jayhawks want to make a real noise in the Big Dance, they’ll need their talisman fit, firing, and ready when it matters most.