Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson remains on a minutes restriction as he works his way back to full health, and the plan was on display Saturday in the Kansas Jayhawks’ 80-62 win over Baylor.
Peterson scored 26 points in just 23 minutes, but he played uneven after halftime. This is not a new issue either.
After the UCF loss on Jan 3, Kansas coach Bill Self confirmed the freshman was on a minutes restriction because of lingering concerns related to a hamstring strain and leg cramps that limited him earlier this season.
“That’s been a concern, that his legs feel differently in the second half,” Self said. “If I could have played him less in the first half, would he have been more available the second half? I think the answer is probably yes.”
The original plan was to keep Peterson closer to 24 minutes overall and distribute them more evenly. But circumstances forced Kansas’ hand.
“We didn’t really have anybody to put in there,” Self said after UCF.“ Obviously, he kept us in there the first half.”
The restriction is not on a fixed timeline. Self said Peterson’s workload will continue to be monitored on a game-by-game basis, depending on how his legs respond.
“I think a lot just depends on how he feels,” Self said. “He just played five in the second half, so obviously it’s concerning.”
Despite the limitations, Peterson has been highly productive. Through nine appearances, he is averaging 22.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in just under 27 minutes. He has scored at least 20 points in six games this season and has played in every Big 12 contest after missing most of the non-conference slate.
For now, Kansas is balancing Peterson’s undeniable impact with the long-term goal of getting its freshman star back to full strength.
Kansas hits the road to play Colorado on Tuesday night. Self will be sidelined himself after being hospitalized at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Monday.
Tip-off between the Jayhawks and Buffs will be at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN (Available on FuboTV).
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