The Kansas Jayhawks bounced back from their heartbreak on Valentine's Day with a convincing 81-69 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Wednesday night, securing their fifth road win of the season while extending their record to 20-6. Unfortunately, all anyone seems to be talking about is the fact that their star guard, projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Darryn Peterson, subbed himself out of the game.
According to head coach Bill Self, this isn't the first time the former five-star recruit has done something like this. "We've had this happen more than a couple of times," Self admitted while also labeling Peterson's actions as "disappointing."
To some, it may seem like a case of load management gone too far, but in the eyes of ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, it's enough to warrant some damage to the draft stock of what was once the top prospect in the nation.
"There is no team in hell that should grab Darryn Peterson at No. 1," Smith proclaimed on "First Take." "You cannot do it. The first ability is availability." ESPN's flagship personality then chose to address Peterson and his supporting cast directly, and in no uncertain terms, flatly asked, "What the hell is going on?"
Many are assuming that the guard is simply trying to ensure that he is fully healthy for his inevitable NBA debut, and that college basketball is nothing more than a formality for him at this point in his career. After all, Peterson is still averaging 20 points per game while possessing a rather impressive frame for his position. As these examples continue to compound, however, his public perception is bound to take a hit.
There's a big difference between the way in which fans and professional scouts view this kind of behavior. But if you're hoping to debut as a fan favorite, this isn't the kind of reputation that you'd want proceeding your arrival in the league. So, unless Peterson is able to correct his behavior, it's increasingly likely that his first steps on an NBA court will be met with concerns of an early substitution rather than cheers.
Kansas returns to the court at home against the Cincinnati Bearcats at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS and Paramount+.