Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson is dismissing those that are claiming his harm issues are exaggerated.
Peterson missed 11 of Kansas’ first 27 video games this season due to hamstring and quad accidents and diseases. Of the video games he performed, the guard logged greater than half-hour simply seven occasions. A few of that ties to ongoing cramping.
Peterson appeared to examine himself out early within the second half of an 81-69 highway win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys final week after scoring 23 factors in 18 minutes. That raised extra eyebrows concerning the scenario. In a narrative revealed by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf on Monday, the guard insisted he is simply struggling to remain wholesome, and his love for basketball should not be questioned.
Darryn Peterson opens up about availability issues
“Everybody’s bought an opinion on it,” Peterson stated. “However basketball is my life. If I might have been on the market each sport this yr, I’d have. When you would have requested me final yr, what had been my objectives for this yr, I’d by no means point out lacking video games. So all these items simply form of occurred, however I’ve bought to take care of it.”
Following an 84-68 residence loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats this previous Saturday, Kansas head coach Invoice Self defended his star participant. Nonetheless, he acknowledged chatter about Peterson will not calm down till he begins ending video games.
“There’s a strategy to change the narrative — play, end,” the coach said, per Jordan Guskey of the Topeka Capital-Journal. “Now, if his physique permits him to, improbable. If it does not enable him to, then they’re going to say one thing once more the following sport. However that is the way in which to get folks to stop speaking.
“It isn’t me saying it is not honest, I do not suppose that actually retains anyone from having an opinion at a nationwide degree or on this degree or any degree to be fairly candid, however I do suppose it is easy for everyone to say what’s taking place inside a scenario that actually does not know the scenario.”
Peterson is not loafing when he is on the court docket. By way of his first 16 contests, he averaged 19.8 factors per sport on 48 p.c taking pictures from the sector. He scored 17 factors on 7-of-17 taking pictures within the loss to Cincinnati.
He has additionally indicated he’ll do no matter it takes to hold the Jayhawks to their fifth nationwide championship. As of Monday, FanDuel Sportsbook provides the Large 12 energy +3000 odds to chop the nets.
“Let’s do it,” Peterson stated when requested what he would inform Kansas followers who’re nervous if he’ll be accessible all through the NCAA Event (March 17-April 6). “That is the aim.”
That will dispel the narrative surrounding the 19-year-old guard. Even then, the common season suggests it is unsure he’ll be accessible for all of March Insanity.
