How big a deal is Darryn Peterson injury narrative after 11th missed game?

The undefeated No. 1 Arizona Wildcats were on the road Monday evening to face the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks. It was a top-10 matchup between two of the country's top teams. They Jayhawks emerged with an 82-78 win, but they had to do it without freshman sensation Darryn Peterson. 

Despite warming up with Kansas, Peterson was ruled out due to flu-like symptoms. It was his 11th game missed this season. As the projected No.1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Peterson's availability is become a cause for concern..

 Can the 19-year-old find a way to consistently be available for Kansas? 

Darryn Peterson must overcome the narrative cast against him

Of the 11 games Darryn Peterson has missed in 2025-26, nine have been due to injury, including hamstring and ankle maladies. The young guard has appeared in 13 of the team's 24 games this season. 

Media members across college basketball have shown concern with Peterson's missed time. However, it appears decision makers in the NBA are not that worried about the issue, with Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reporting that one NBA GM said "people are overreacting."