How Serious is Darryn Peterson’s Cramping Issue?

There’s a little unease building in Lawrence, and it’s not about the schedule or the rotation. It’s about Darryn Peterson, and more specifically, how long he’s going to be stuck on the sideline.

Kansas fans aren’t stupid. They’ve heard what Bill Self is saying, and it’s not exactly full of confidence. When your coach keeps repeating “we don’t think it’s a long-term issue,” but never flat-out says “it’s not a long-term issue,” people start reading between the lines. Now, message boards and X threads are buzzing about whether Peterson is just dealing with cramps or something a little more complicated.

To be clear, no one is calling the kid soft. But it’s fair to wonder why a top-end talent like Peterson keeps getting shelved for tightness and soreness when the season is barely underway. He played in one exhibition and had a huge game in the opener, but since then, it’s been off and on. Against North Carolina, he looked great, 22 points, efficient shooting, solid minutes. But then came the familiar story: postgame cramping, tightness, and back to the bench.

It’s not like Kansas is falling apart without him. They’re deep, and Bill Self always figures it out. But when you’ve got a guy like Peterson, a top-tier scorer who was supposed to be a difference-maker from day one, this isn’t the kind of availability you want to see out of the gate.

Peterson has the tools to be one of the best players in the country. But right now, the only thing growing faster than his potential is the list of questions about when he’s going to stay on the floor for good.