No. 8 Kansas secured an 81-69 victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night in Stillwater, but star guard Darryn Peterson's early departure due to cramping overshadowed the win. Peterson scored 23 points in just 18 minutes before asking to come out. Coach Bill Self expressed disappointment over the limited playing time for his key player.
The game took place in Stillwater, where Kansas built a double-digit lead early, thanks in large part to Peterson's performance. He tallied 20 of his 23 points in the first half, going 6-of-10 from three-point range, and added two assists. After drilling a three-pointer with about 17:22 left in the second half, Peterson motioned to coach Bill Self to be substituted out and did not return, citing cramping issues.
Self, speaking to reporters afterward, said he was caught off guard. "I didn't anticipate that tonight at all. I thought he was good to go," Self remarked, according to the Lawrence Journal-World. "But we only got 18 minutes out of him. That's disappointing because he could have had a really good night."
This incident marks another in a series of absences for Peterson, a projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has missed 11 of Kansas' 26 games this season due to a hamstring strain, sprained ankle, quad issue, cramping, and flu-like symptoms that led to a last-minute scratch against top-ranked Arizona. In the games he has played, Peterson has left early three times, including against BYU and Iowa State.
Despite the challenges, Kansas improved to 20-6 overall and sits third in the Big 12 standings. Self noted that the team has adapted to playing without Peterson at times. "One thing about it is [cramping] has happened enough that our guys have learned to play without him, even though that's not the way we want to play," he said via ESPN. "But that's certainly something we're not unaccustomed to right now."
Looking ahead, the Jayhawks face tough matchups against No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona, with five regular-season games remaining before the Big 12 tournament. Self acknowledged the ongoing concern: "I thought we were past it, but obviously we're not. It's certainly a concern." Peterson's availability remains a key factor as Kansas eyes a national title run.
