Darryn Peterson has 21 factors in 22 minutes in Kansas’ win

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson made his presence felt in an abbreviated stint towards Green Bay within the groups’ season opener.

Peterson, a possible No. 1 decide in subsequent summer season’s NBA draft, scored 21 factors in 22 minutes in his debut for the No. 19 Jayhawks in a 94-51 win over Green Bay on Monday evening.

“That was literally the easiest 21 points in 21 minutes of action,” Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb mentioned. “I thought our guys guarded well. … I don’t think he broke a sweat.”

Peterson scored 26 factors in 25 minutes in Kansas’ exhibition opener towards Louisville. But he missed the following exhibition recreation towards Fort Hays State due to cramps.

Kansas coach Bill Self mentioned Peterson may have performed greater than 22 minutes if it was mandatory Monday evening.

But, the mix of returning cramps and a 21-point halftime lead made conserving Peterson out a simple resolution for Self, particularly with a recreation towards No. 25 North Carolina looming Friday evening in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

“It was bothering him,” Self mentioned. “He said he felt it coming on. So (there was) no reason to (push it). Hopefully we can get him out there for practice tomorrow. If it had been a closer game, I’m sure he would try to go back out there.”

Peterson was particularly spectacular within the first half, when he scored 18 of his factors. He was 6 of 10 from the sector, together with hitting two of Kansas’ three 3-pointers. He additionally had three rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.

“We loved him on film more so than a lot of the other freshmen around the country,” Gottlieb mentioned.

After seeing him in recreation motion, Self mentioned he is impressed with extra than simply the easy scoring potential his prized freshman possesses.

“He makes the game look easy,” Self mentioned. “It’s not that easy. In the first half, he was playing downhill, and he played really well. He’s a good player. His poise is well beyond his years, without question.

“Teams will do a very good job guarding him. He’ll have off nights, and that stuff’s going to occur. He’s younger, however he is about as mature as any 18-year outdated round anyplace.”

Self, who is a stickler for defense, even likes Peterson’s defensive effort.

“I feel he may very well be nice defensively. He may very well be. It’s just like the hashtag-potential, which suggests it has not occurred but. But I feel he may very well be nice defensively.

“I think he loves playing. And the last I checked, that’s 50 percent of being out there.”