Will Darryn Peterson Play vs. Duke? Latest Updates on Kansas Star's Injury Status

Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson will sit out Tuesday night's matchup with Duke in New York City.

Peterson is still recovering from the hamstring strain that has sidelined him since Nov. 7. He also missed time during the preseason due to the injury.

The 18-year-old has not played since posting 21 and 22 points, respectively, in the Jayhawks' first two games of the season.

No. 24 Kansas and No. 5 Duke are set to tip off the Champions Classic at 9 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

Kansas head coach Bill Self told reporters Saturday that Peterson was continuing to experience "tightness in his right hamstring," and that he wasn't sure would the guard would be available to play against Duke.

"He wants to be out there so bad," Self said Saturday. "But I'm not going to put him out there 'til he feels well... we've got to get him where he's not hesitant to play.

"We have seen him play, and he's pretty good. And we still haven't seen the whole yet. Think about that. We need to get him where he can explode, without the thought in his mind that something negative could happen."

Self noted the Jayhawks have noticed Peterson's absence at least in part because they're missing his three-point shooting. Through two college contests, the guard was attempting six three-pointers per game while making half of them.

In two games without him, the Jayhawks have shot a combined 29.5 percent from behind the arc.

"I think we're better shooters than what we are," Self said after Kansas went 5-for-21 from deep in Saturday's win over visiting Princeton. "Now granted, if Darryn's playing, it's a different deal, because hopefully he's the one shooting a third of those threes himself.

"But we're not, obviously, going to have him, at least for the immediate future. I just won't know how long that'll be."

Duke is heading into the game undefeated behind a stellar first four games from star freshman Cameron Boozer, while Kansas is still searching for its first major win following a second-half collapse against North Carolina on Nov. 7.

Kansas will need starters like Flory Bidunga and Tre White to step up with their biggest performances of the season so far in order to take on one of the highest-scoring teams in the NCAA without Peterson contributing on offense.