Kansas Star Darryn Peterson Exits Game vs BYU Due to Conditioning Issues

Head coach Bill Self reveals Peterson's struggles with cramps after explosive first half performance

Feb. 1, 2026 at 6:47pm

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Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson had a dominant first half against BYU, but was forced to sit out the entire second half due to issues with cramping and conditioning. Head coach Bill Self later revealed that Peterson's body has struggled with this issue at times, likely exacerbated by an ankle injury he suffered the previous week. Despite the setback, Self expressed confidence that Peterson will quickly regain his rhythm and be ready to play in the team's upcoming game against Texas Tech.

Why it matters

Peterson is a key player for the Jayhawks, and his ability to play at a high level for the full game is crucial to the team's success. The fact that he has struggled with conditioning and cramping issues raises concerns about his long-term health and availability, which could impact Kansas' performance as they look to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

The details

In the first half against BYU, freshman Peterson outperformed his rival AJ Dybantsa with his scoring prowess. However, Peterson was forced to sit out the entire second half due to cramping issues. After the game, coach Bill Self revealed that Peterson's conditioning may have been a factor, as he had just returned to practice the previous Thursday after spraining his ankle the week prior. Self noted that Peterson looked 'gassed' during that Thursday practice session, which may have contributed to the cramping problems he experienced during the BYU game.

  • On January 31, Kansas defeated BYU 90-82.
  • On the previous Tuesday (January 28), Peterson sprained his ankle against Colorado.
  • Peterson returned to practice on the Thursday (January 30) before the BYU game.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A star freshman player for the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team.

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team.

AJ Dybantsa

A freshman player for the BYU Cougars men's basketball team, who was outperformed by Peterson in the first half.

Kevin Young

The head coach of the BYU Cougars men's basketball team.

Jeff Goodman

A college basketball analyst who interviewed Bill Self on the 'Field of 68' show.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, the guy is, he's been relentless in the training room or whatnot. But for, whatever reason, his body does this sometimes. Now, I think this time it could be because of conditioning, because you know he turned his ankle Tuesday against Colorado, a week ago Tuesday. So what's that been 10, 11 days? Yeah, and he practiced on Thursday right now. Now was he out there doing one-on-zero shooting? Yeah. And doing that stuff? Yes.”

— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks

“So, I wonder if that could be part of it, but he'll get that back quickly. He may not get it all back by Monday, but it was pretty impressive for a guy to practice one time and be out of rhythm supposedly, and come out and perform like that, right?”

— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks

What’s next

The Jayhawks will look to continue their winning ways against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Monday, February 2, as Peterson hopes to play the entire game and regain his full conditioning and rhythm.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of player health and conditioning for top college basketball programs like Kansas. While Peterson's explosive first-half performance showed his talent, the cramping issues that forced him to sit out the second half underscore the need for the Jayhawks to carefully manage his recovery from injury and ensure he is fully prepared physically to contribute for the full game.