URGENT UPDATE: Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, projected as the No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA Draft, will miss the highly anticipated game against Duke on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, due to a hamstring injury. The announcement was made just hours before tip-off, heightening concerns for the Jayhawks as they face off at Madison Square Garden.
Head coach Bill Self confirmed via X that Peterson is making progress but will be reevaluated at the end of the week. “He continues to make progress from his hamstring strain,” Self stated. This news comes as a significant blow to Kansas, which is already looking for ways to compete against a formidable Duke team ranked No. 5 in the latest polls.
The absence of Peterson, who has already missed the last two games, shifts the spotlight to Cameron Boozer, son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer. Boozer, along with other top talents from Duke, is expected to shine in this matchup, reducing the competitive edge for Kansas. The Jayhawks now face a daunting task against a Duke squad loaded with elite prospects, including projected first-round picks.
Peterson’s impressive start to the season included a standout performance where he scored 21 points in just 22 minutes during an exhibition against Louisville. His last game was a 22-point effort in a loss to North Carolina on November 7, 2023. As Kansas prepares for this crucial game, they will rely heavily on players like Flory Bidunga (averaging 17.0 PPG) and Tre White (averaging 12.0 PPG) to step up in Peterson’s absence.
This matchup at Madison Square Garden is not just a game; it’s a showcase for future NBA stars and an opportunity for Kansas to prove their mettle without their leading freshman. As the team heads into the Players Era Festival with upcoming games against Notre Dame and Syracuse, fans are left wondering how long Peterson will be sidelined and how it will affect the team’s performance moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates as Kansas navigates this challenging period without their star player.
