Is Darryn Peterson playing tonight? What to know about Kansas star's status vs. Houston

Kansas star Darryn Peterson is expected to play Monday night when the No. 8 Jayhawks host No. 2 Houston in a Big 12 matchup at Allen Fieldhouse. 

This comes after Peterson has faced heavy criticism for "ducking" out of game or missing some entirely. The high-profile freshman guard and presumptive top pick for the 2026 NBA Draft wasn't listed on Kansas’ latest injury report and appears likely to take the floor after logging significant minutes in Saturday’s 84-68 loss to Cincinnati. 

Peterson’s availability has been one of the season’s most picked apart storylines of the college basketball season. The 6-foot-6 phenom has missed multiple games this year due to a combination of cramping issues, illness and minor injuries, including a notable absence with flu-like symptoms in a win over then undefeated Arizona earlier this month.

Despite that history, Kansas coach Bill Self has indicated Peterson’s current status is sound enough for Monday’s Big 12 “Big Monday” contest. 

When active, Peterson has been a key offensive catalyst for the Jayhawks, averaging near 20 points per game with strong shooting splits. His presence will be critical against a Houston team coming off consecutive losses that has dropped to second in the conference standings, including a tough defeat to Arizona at home. 

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Kansas and Houston tip off at 9 p.m ET on ESPN in what could be a pivotal game in the race for Big 12 positioning towards March. 

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