- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
No. 14 Kansas Expects Star Freshman Darryn Peterson Back for Clash with No. 13 BYU
Showdown between Peterson and BYU's AJ Dybantsa, two of the top NBA draft prospects, highlights highly anticipated matchup.
Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:31pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks expect to have star freshman Darryn Peterson available for their Saturday showdown against No. 13 BYU and standout freshman AJ Dybantsa. Peterson, who is projected to be a top NBA draft pick, has missed time this season due to various injuries but is expected to play in the highly anticipated game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Why it matters
This game features two of the top freshmen in college basketball, with Peterson and Dybantsa both projected to be high NBA draft picks. Their head-to-head matchup has been eagerly anticipated all season, as the two faced off twice on the AAU circuit last year with Peterson's team winning both times. The game also has major Big 12 title implications, with both teams just 2.5 games back of the conference leader.
The details
Peterson has dealt with ankle, hamstring, and calf issues that have limited him to just 10 games this season. But Kansas coach Bill Self said he anticipates Peterson being ready to go for the BYU game. Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring at 23.6 points per game, while Peterson is averaging 21.6 points. The two have a history of epic matchups, with Peterson scoring 58 points and hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in their last meeting on the AAU circuit.
- Peterson missed last week's win over Kansas State while dealing with an ankle sprain.
- The Kansas-BYU game is scheduled for Saturday, January 29, 2026.
The players
Darryn Peterson
A star freshman guard for the Kansas Jayhawks who is projected to be a high NBA draft pick in June.
AJ Dybantsa
A star freshman guard for the BYU Cougars who leads the nation in scoring at 23.6 points per game and is also projected to be a high NBA draft pick.
Bill Self
The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks.
What they’re saying
“I anticipate him being ready to go.”
— Bill Self, Kansas Head Coach
What’s next
The winner of the Kansas-BYU game will remain in contention for the Big 12 title, while the loser will likely be eliminated from the race.
The takeaway
This highly anticipated matchup between two of the top freshmen in college basketball, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and AJ Dybantsa of BYU, has major implications for the Big 12 title race. With both teams just 2.5 games back of the conference leader, the winner will keep their title hopes alive while the loser will likely be eliminated from contention.
