Tag: Iowa State Basketball

Darryn Peterson Availability Update: Bill Self Reveals Status vs. Iowa State on Saturday

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2/13/26

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The Kansas Jayhawks received encouraging news ahead of Saturday’s matchup vs. the Iowa State Cyclones.

Head coach Bill Self confirmed that star freshman Darryn Peterson is “good to go” for the noon CT showdown, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Peterson missed Kansas’ 82-78 victory over No. 1 Arizona on Monday due to illness. (source)

Peterson has appeared in 13 of Kansas’ 24 games this season, averaging a team-high 20.5 points, along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. He is shooting 48.9% from the field and 41.9% from three-point range.

Self Responds to Criticism

Peterson’s absence against Arizona sparked criticism from some fans, especially following his early exit in a Jan. 31 win over BYU due to cramps. He did not return to that contest, prompting questions about his availability.

Self directly addressed the narrative surrounding his freshman guard.

“I’m not a social media guy, but I have gotten on X and read some of the things and narratives that are out there about him, and it’s really not remotely true,” Self said. “The thing about it is, when you’re honest, people don’t believe you, and when you don’t comment on it, people create their own narratives.

“… The narrative is BS in many ways. I’m not sure. Load management, this kid hadn’t talked about that one time or anything. Load management, geez, that’s when you play four games in seven days. That’s not when you play one half a week or anything like that. So those aren’t true. … He’s really sick.”

Kansas Built Momentum Without Him

Even without Peterson on Monday, Kansas delivered one of its most complete performances of the season. The Jayhawks secured Arizona’s first loss by controlling the game at the free-throw line, converting 21 of 25 attempts.

Forward Flory Bidunga led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Still, Peterson’s offensive presence adds another dimension against an Iowa State defense that allows just 64.9 points per game — the 15th-best mark nationally.

With Self confirming his availability, Kansas enters the rematch at full strength and looking to extend its recent surge. The contest tips at noon CT and will air on ABC.

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Iowa State HC TJ Otzelberger on Kansas Before Saturday Rematch

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2/14/26

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The rematch between the Kansas Jayhawks and Iowa State Cyclones arrives witt different stakes than their first meeting in January.

At that time, Iowa State entered undefeated at 16-0, while the Jayhawks were unranked and searching for consistency. Since then, KU has surged to No. 9, stacking wins over multiple top-15 opponents, including a statement victory vs. No. 1 Arizona on Monday.

Thursday, Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger addressed the transformation he has seen from Bill Self’s squad with the media. (SOURCE)

“Their confidence certainly has grown immensely,” Otzelberger said. “I mean, at that point in time, they were still kind of trying to lock in on their identity, and you can tell they were practicing with great spirit because you could see it in the game. And they’ve been able to carry that forward to not lose a game in that stretch. So, their confidence is really high, they’ve obviously shown even when Peterson isn’t out there how well they can play and how great a team that they are.”

Otzelberger has consistently shown respect for Bill Self and the Kansas program. His comments reflect a coach who understands the magnitude of the challenge, especially against a team riding one of the strongest midseason stretches of Self’s tenure.

Kansas’ seven-game win streak has featured balanced scoring and sharper defense. Melvin Council Jr. sparked the second-half rally with 23 points and six assists against Arizona.

The biggest storyline entering the matchup centers on the status of Darryn Peterson. Otzelberger acknowledged that Kansas has proven capable regardless of his availability.

Since taking over in Ames in 2021, Otzelberger holds a 3-6 record against Kansas. All three victories have come inside Hilton Coliseum over the past three seasons, a streak the Jayhawks aim to snap.

With Kansas carrying momentum and Iowa State defending home court, the rematch presents a defining test for both programs.

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