ESPN's 'GameDay' panel discusses Darryn Peterson's availability for KU

The freshman has missed 11 games due to various injuries and illnesses this season.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson's availability has been a hot topic of discussion nationally, with ESPN's 'GameDay' panel weighing in on the situation. Peterson, who has missed 11 games this season due to hamstring tightness, a sprained ankle, and flu-like symptoms, scored 10 points in Saturday's loss to Iowa State. The panel discussed the speculation around Peterson's playing status and whether the team is protecting him from himself.

Why it matters

Peterson is a highly talented player who has drawn national attention, and his availability has been a major storyline for the 9th-ranked Jayhawks as they approach the NCAA tournament. The discussion around his injuries and illnesses has raised questions about load management and whether the team is being overly cautious with him.

The details

Peterson, a 6-foot-6 freshman, has averaged 19.8 points per game on 47.9% shooting this season. He has missed 11 of KU's 25 games due to a variety of issues, including hamstring tightness, a sprained ankle, and most recently flu-like symptoms. In Saturday's loss to Iowa State, he scored a season-low 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in 24 minutes, with zero assists and three turnovers.

  • On February 13, Peterson missed KU's win over No. 1 Arizona due to flu-like symptoms.
  • On February 18, Peterson scored 10 points in KU's 74-56 loss to No. 5 Iowa State.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A 6-foot-6 freshman basketball player for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, who has missed 11 of the team's 25 games this season due to various injuries and illnesses.

Bill Self

The head coach of the University of Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.

Jay Bilas

An ESPN basketball analyst and former college player at Duke University.

Seth Greenberg

An ESPN basketball analyst and former college basketball coach.

Jay Williams

An ESPN basketball analyst and former college player at Duke University.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When he plays, you can't take your eyes off him.”

— Jay Bilas, ESPN Basketball Analyst (ESPN)

“I think part of this (game-by-game speculation) honestly is our selfishness in that I want to watch him play, so I'm constantly going, 'Is he going to play?' Because I want to watch him play.”

— Jay Bilas, ESPN Basketball Analyst (ESPN)

“The guy loves ball. I can tell you one thing. He makes shots that guys make in the NBA — guys like the names of Jordan and (Dwyane) Wade and Kobe (Bryant), those are the type of shots he makes. And when he's healthy, and I think he will be healthy, he could end up leading this team to a Final Four.”

— Seth Greenberg, ESPN Basketball Analyst (ESPN)

“I agree Kansas (in playing without Peterson often) has handled (this) well, but this is just me speaking in a very raw manner. Like, I've never had a doctor say unless something was broken, 'Oh, you're not going to play.' No, I'm going to play.”

— Jay Williams, ESPN Basketball Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.