LAS VEGAS -- Darryn Peterson, ESPN's projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, is inching toward a comeback in the near future, Kansas coach Bill Self said after the Jayhawks' 69-59 win over Notre Dame at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas on Monday.
Self said the 6-foot-6 wing -- who was ruled out for this week's games in Las Vegas and hasn't played for the Jayhawks since their loss at North Carolina on Nov. 7 -- is working out and hopes to return soon, but Self did not reveal a timetable.
"I am hopeful that it's soon," Self said. "He's doing more every day. He's working out [in Las Vegas]. He's running, He's cutting. He's got to test out some things, which we'll test again when we get back [to Lawrence]. So, it's week-to-week. That may be too long. It's more of every three or four days, we will reevaluate and see."
In two games this season, Peterson has averaged 21.5 points and is 6-for-12 from the 3-point line.
Kansas, which will face Syracuse on Tuesday in Las Vegas, is 3-1 without the freshman star this season. In his absence, Kansas standout Flory Bidunga (18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks Monday) and others have stepped up to fill the void.
"There are no excuses. We definitely have to figure out who we are without him," said Bryson Tiller, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds against Notre Dame. "He'll be back soon for sure. We've got to be the tougher team each night."
Though the team hopes to get back to full strength, its backcourt suffered another setback when Jayden Dawson was injured in warmups on a dunk attempt Monday. He played just four minutes and couldn't continue. Dawson, a senior guard, could miss this week's games as a result, Self said.
"X-rays are still pending," Self said. "Apparently, he hurt it dunking in warmups, so it's his right wrist. So, I bet he's doubtful for the [Players Era Festival], but I do not know that for a fact. But he went in today and then obviously said he couldn't go, so that was disappointing because we're kind of short-handed right now."