Peterson's Aggressive Play Boosts Kansas

0:00On March 15, Kansas freshman star Darren Peterson is finally hitting his stride just in time for the postseason. The six foot six guard missed 11 of the J-Hawks 32 games this season due to injuries and illness, but he's now healthy for the longest. Stretch yet. In Thursday 78-73 win over number six seed TCU in the Big 12 tournament, he led with 24 points and played a season high 37 minutes including all 20 in the second half. Peterson showed real aggression by driving to the basket instead of settling for threes. He shot five for 17 from the field and one for four from beyond the arc, but drew tons of fouls going 13 for 16 at the free throw line. His most attempts all year that marked a big jump from his season average of about five free throws per game. Coach Bill's self raved about the progress, saying he never even thought about pulling Peterson early. Earlier this season, self managed his minutes carefully to keep him fresh,

1:02but now Peterson's body feels strong after the last few weeks. Self called him the team's best player and praised his ability to get past defenders. This health boost comes as opponents try to shut down his catch and shoot threes where he hits nearly 40 percent. By attacking the rim, Peterson proved he can adapt and score anyway, a key sign he's back to full strength. With the win, Kansas advances to face number two seed, Houston Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Self wants to see if Peterson can handle back-to-back games, just like in the pros where he's eyed as a top pick in 2026. His return could fuel a deep tournament run.