Kansas' Bill Self Calls 'BS' on Darryn Peterson Narrative, 'Hell Yes' Injury Was Legit

Kansas coach Bill Self defended star freshman Darryn Peterson from critics who questioned the seriousness of his injuries this season.

"This is a, 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 told reporters Thursday.

"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. And you know what? I do the same thing about things I don't know about: 'Well, it must be this, you know, geez, it has to be that if they're not going to talk about it.' But here's the bottom line. Was his hamstring legit? Hell, yes."

Peterson's talent is undeniable. He's averaging 20.5 points on 48.9 percent shooting, including 41.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has the 6'6" guard sitting at No. 1 in his 2026 NBA mock draft, writing that "there's talk about Peterson being the most complete scoring guard prospect of the modern era."

However, Peterson has also been a source of some frustration. He has suited up for just 13 of Kansas' 24 games, and there have been a handful of occasions when he was glued to the bench for long stretches.

Peterson has battled hamstring and ankle injuries along with some cramping issues. Flu-like symptoms had him sidelined for the Jayhawks' 82-78 upset of No. 1 Arizona on Monday.

His propensity to be in and out of the lineup has sparked wider conversations, particularly as it regards the draft and what he can do at the next level.

Self was unequivocal with his remarks on Thursday. Should Peterson's injury problems continue, though, it will be tough to fully dispel the general narratives.