Darryn Peterson and No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball came up short Saturday as No. 2 Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball secured a share of the Big 12 Conference regular-season championship with an 84-61 win. Though Kansas lost, Peterson had proved his caliber with another elite performance.
Fans Share Reactions Following Darryn Peterson and Kansas’ Loss to Arizona
Peterson finished with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal, shooting 8-of-21 from the field, 3-of-8 from deep, and a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line on Saturday.
Peterson’s 24-point outing pushed his season total to 355 points, moving him past Sherron Collins (354) into 17th place on Kansas’ all-time freshman scoring list, as Jayhawk alum Adam Sullivan reported.
Darryn Peterson now has 24 points on the day giving him 355 this season. Peterson moves past Sherron Collins (354) for 17th all-time in points by a KU freshman#kubball
— Adam Sullivan (@Sully_2029) February 28, 2026
However, Peterson remains a major name in the “generational” prospect debate, with many still projecting him as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
“Darryn Peterson Jr., showing why the NBA folks still leaning towards taking him at No. 1. 22 points in 25 minutes, but just looks healthy. Has a burst that’s been missing of late. And doing more than just scoring. Driving to kick, also getting in paint and fighting for boards,” CBB analyst Jeff Goodman tweeted.
“Darryn Peterson’s jumper is a thing of beauty,” Kevin Thomas, host of the AZ Wildcats Podcast, reacted.
Darryn Peterson’s jumper is a thing of beauty.
— Kevin Thomas (@KevoPosts) February 28, 2026
In Saturday’s game, Kansas struck first with a three-pointer from Peterson just 30 seconds into the game, but Arizona built a 39-28 halftime lead. The Jayhawks managed only 14 points over the final 12 minutes, with Peterson going scoreless in the last 7:30. As a team, Kansas shot just 34 percent from the floor.
With Kansas now 21-8 overall and 11-5 in Big 12 play after splitting the season series with Arizona, some fans questioned Peterson’s overall impact.
“Maybe…. Kansas is better WITHOUT Darryn Peterson?” analyst JC Hoops said.
Maybe…. Kansas is better WITHOUT Darryn Peterson?
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) February 28, 2026
“This isnt an anti-Darryn Peterson post, but: In February AJ Dybantsa is averaging:* 30 points * 8 rebounds * 5 assists * While shooting 44% from three. Dont think we can default to “He has injuries – but DP is clearly the most talented player in the draft” anymore,” FoxSportsRadio host Aaron Torres wrote.
This isnt an anti-Darryn Peterson post, but:
In February AJ Dybantsa is averaging:
* 30 points
* 8 rebounds
* 5 assists
* While shooting 44% from threeDont think we can default to “He has injuries – but DP is clearly the most talented player in the draft” anymore pic.twitter.com/pvvfAxogMK
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) February 28, 2026
After the 23-point loss, Kansas head coach Bill Self called his team’s performance “soft,” saying that while Peterson briefly brought them back into contention, the Jayhawks ultimately went “braindead” down the stretch.
Kansas will now look to bounce back on Tuesday on the road against Arizona State. Peterson’s squad will then close out the regular season at home against Kansas State before turning its attention to the Big 12 Tournament.
