Kansas might be whole again on Sunday. Bill Self said he expects Darryn Peterson — ESPN’s projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft — to be available for the Border War matchup against Missouri in Kansas City.
Peterson has missed seven straight games with a hamstring injury, but he’s practiced twice this week. That’s the good news. The caveat is standard Self.
“He should be available, unless he has a setback between now and game time,” Self said, via ESPN. “We’re approaching it like he’s available.”
Peterson is worth the caution. In just two games before the injury, he looked like the real deal, at 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, elite efficiency, and a level of polish that had NBA scouts buzzing.
At 6-foot-6, he’s a three-level scorer who defends, creates, and immediately tilted Kansas’ offense the moment he stepped on the court.
Kansas went 5-2 without him, leaning on big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller while climbing into the top 10 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
But the offense wasn’t the same. As Self said last week, the Jayhawks “don’t really know how to play without him.”
The rivalry adds a little extra juice. Missouri snapped Kansas’ three-game streak in the renewed Border War last season. Both teams enter Sunday off losses/ Kansas fell 61-56 to UConn, while Missouri dropped one at Notre Dame.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
