Kansas Basketball's Peterson Struggles Amid March Madness

0:00On March 19, Kansas basketball heads into March madness on shaky ground after dropping five of their last nine games, capped by a 22-point. Lost to Houston in the Big 12 tournament semi-finals. The J-Hawks have stumbled through a rough patch since mid-February, with tough defeats to teams like Arizona State and Cincinnati. Freshman Guard Darren Peterson has been available throughout, but the offense still feels off, and the starting lineup has not clicked. Peterson dealt with cramping problems all season, starting back in October, which kept him out often early on. Lately though, he's been healthier, playing in the final nine regular season games, and logging about 32 minutes per night since late. February. That shift has helped his availability, especially in second halves. Fans and analysts are buzzing about how defenses are now keying in on him with double teams and tie coverage, pushing him into tough jumpers while, challenging his teammates. Earlier, he shot over 50% from the field, but his numbers have dipped to 44% overall,

1:02with rough splits over the last six. Games at 35% from the field, 30% from three, and 89% from the line. The real eye opener is the team's record. Fourteen wins and eight losses when Peterson plays, compared to nine wins and just two losses without him. It shows the roster might still be adjusting after learning to play without their top talent for chance of the year. Right now, he's sparring a lot of shots without much efficiency, or winning impact. If Peterson can't turn it around in the big games, Kansas could face another quick tournament bounce, dimming hopes for a deep run as the nation watches closely.