KU Star Darryn Peterson Faces Criticism Ahead of NCAA Tournament

ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg questions Peterson's attitude and body language despite his talent and production.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:51pm

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Kansas Jayhawks freshman phenom Darryn Peterson has been praised for his talent, but ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg has raised concerns about Peterson's attitude and body language, especially during the Big 12 Tournament. Greenberg worries that Peterson's perceived lack of engagement with his teammates could be an issue for NBA teams evaluating him. Meanwhile, Peterson has dealt with persistent cramping issues that have caused him to miss 11 games this season, though he has given the Jayhawks his all when healthy.

Why it matters

As the Jayhawks prepare for the NCAA Tournament, they will need Peterson, their leading scorer, to be available and engaged if they hope to make a deep run. Greenberg's critique raises questions about Peterson's NBA prospects and his ability to be a team leader, which could impact Kansas's tournament chances.

The details

In recent comments on ESPN's First Take, analyst Seth Greenberg said he has "a little bit of a question mark" about Peterson's interactions with his teammates, noting that he "never" sees Peterson pick someone up or show energy and joy on the court. Greenberg added that Peterson's body language in the Big 12 Tournament was concerning, and he worries about how Peterson would handle the demands of an 82-game NBA season.

  • Peterson missed 11 games for the 23-10 Jayhawks this season due to severe cramping issues.
  • The Jayhawks will face No. 13 California Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A freshman phenom for the Kansas Jayhawks who has been praised for his talent but has dealt with persistent injury and health issues this season.

Seth Greenberg

An ESPN analyst who has been critical of Peterson's attitude and body language, expressing concerns about how he would handle the demands of an NBA career.

The Kansas City Star

A local newspaper that reported on Peterson's severe cramping issues, which have caused him to miss significant time this season.

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What they’re saying

“The one thing that bothers — I just have a little bit of a question mark — and everyone says he's a good kid. I don't like the way he interacts with his teammates. I don't like the energy and the joy that he plays with. He plays, but I never see him pick someone up. I never see him interact with his teammates.”

— Seth Greenberg, ESPN Analyst

“In the Big 12 Tournament, I didn't like the body language. I've been on Kansas all season long. I've been saying, when Peterson comes back, this is gonna be a different team. They gotta play with him, not through him, but he's gotta be selectively aggressive. He's gotta know when he can take over a game. I've been all in — until I saw the Big 12 Tournament.”

— Seth Greenberg, ESPN Analyst

“I had like a full-body [cramp], super serious. You could say it was traumatic. I would say it was a traumatic experience.”

— Darryn Peterson

What’s next

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The takeaway

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