Jayhawks Star Darryn Peterson Struggles in Shocking Home Loss to Bearcats

Despite playing the full game, the projected first overall pick shot just 7-for-17 as Kansas fell to unranked Cincinnati at Allen Fieldhouse.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 12:33am

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In a surprising Big 12 upset, the Kansas Jayhawks, ranked No. 8 in the country, fell to the unranked Cincinnati Bearcats 84-68 at home. Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson, a projected first overall pick, played the entire game but struggled mightily, shooting just 7-for-17 from the field including 1-for-7 from three-point range. The loss raised questions about Kansas' ability to play cohesively with Peterson and coach Bill Self's game planning when Peterson is available.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for the Jayhawks, who have had an up-and-down season and are hoping to be a true national championship contender. Peterson's health and availability have been a major storyline, and this game highlighted the team's struggles to play effectively with their star player on the floor. The defeat also raises questions about whether Kansas may have overlooked the Bearcats, an NCAA tournament-caliber team that has now won four straight games.

The details

In the surprising upset, the Bearcats pulled away in the second half after the game was close at halftime. Peterson's struggles on the offensive end played a major role, as the Jayhawks were unable to find any rhythm. Kansas coach Bill Self rejected the notion that his team overlooked Cincinnati, saying they simply didn't bring the necessary energy and didn't play as a cohesive unit.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Kansas will return to action at home on Monday, February 23, 2026 against a frustrated Houston Cougars team.

The players

Darryn Peterson

The Jayhawks' star player and projected first overall NBA draft pick, who played the entire game but struggled mightily, shooting just 7-for-17.

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, who rejected the notion that his team overlooked Cincinnati, saying they simply didn't bring the necessary energy and didn't play as a cohesive unit.

Wes Miller

The head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, whose team pulled off the surprising upset victory, their fourth consecutive win.

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What they’re saying

“This season has been such a roller-coaster ride for Kansas fans. But this team has no clue right now how to play with Darryn Peterson, and Bill Self has no clue how to use him while trying to keep him healthy. He looked more passive than he has all season today despite taking 17 shots.”

— Jeff Goodman, Basketball Analyst

“We didn't come with good energy today, but don't make something out of nothing. No team is at 10 for every game. I'm not buying that. We played an NCAA tournament team today.”

— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks

What’s next

The Jayhawks will look to bounce back quickly when they host the Houston Cougars on Monday, February 23, 2026. This will be an opportunity for Darryn Peterson to have a statement game and put the recent struggles behind him.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the ongoing challenges the Jayhawks face in integrating their star player Darryn Peterson into their game plan, raising questions about coach Bill Self's ability to maximize Peterson's talents while keeping the team playing cohesively. The defeat also serves as a wake-up call that the Jayhawks cannot overlook any opponent, even unranked teams, if they hope to be a true national championship contender.