Kansas star Darryn Peterson completed 30 minutes in the No. 14 Jayhawks’ stunning 69-56 victory over the No. 5 Houston Cougars on Monday evening. Peterson tallied 14 points, four rebounds, and one assist at Allen Fieldhouse as the Jayhawks dominated the Cougars on both ends of the floor.
Peterson has been facing a storm of criticism after he appeared to substitute himself out of the Jayhawks’ win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys last week after only 18 minutes and sat out the rest of the game.
Eddie Johnson Torches Darryn Peterson Over Commitment Concerns
Eddie Johnson, who played for 17 years in the NBA, weighed in on the Peterson issue with a scathing take on X.
“It’s not totally his fault. He is growing up in an era where he sees players run right to locker room without the trainer checking them out , Parents and some Agents saying sit down with any pain and this should send the most fear, They are worried about their BRAND over team!” Johnson tweeted.
MORE: College Basketball Analyst Boldly Claims Darryn Peterson Isn’t ‘Kansas’ Best Player’
Peterson has regularly been tabbed as the favorite prospect to be selected No. 1 overall during the 2026 NBA Draft, alongside BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa and Duke Blue Devils standout Cameron Boozer.
According to ESPN Research, were he to be picked No. 1 on draft night, Peterson would be only the third player since 2000 to clinch the honor, having missed more than 10 college basketball games alongside Kyrie Irving (26) and Kenyon Martin (17).
Analyst Defends Peterson After Backlash
During an appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show” on Monday, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas defended Peterson’s commitment amid criticism over missing Kansas games.
“If Darryn Peterson were really getting advice from people about shutting it down, shutting it down would be the easy way to go,” Bilas said. “The NBA would take him No. 1. Trying to play is what’s causing these speculative issues about his character and all that other stuff. I don’t find it fair.
“If we had solid information that said so, then I’m good with it. But I think it’s been a little bit unfair. The kid doesn’t talk much. He never had this problem in high school. Nobody ever questioned his competitiveness.”
The Jayhawks are 9-2 without Peterson, and they took down the then-No. 1 Arizona Wildcats earlier this month when he missed the game with flu-like symptoms. Despite playing 25 minutes or more in just nine of his 16 appearances, Peterson is still one of the most efficient players in the country.
The talented guard is averaging 19.5 points on 47.2% shooting from the floor and 40.5% shooting from beyond the arc, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists for the Jayhawks this season, and his presence would make Kansas a dark horse during the NCAA Tournament.
