\n<\/p>\n
There\u2019s been so much backlash to Kansas star Darryn Peterson missing time that we\u2019ve reached the backlash-to-the-backlash portion of the public discourse.<\/p>\n
Jay Bilas called the criticism of Peterson \u201cunfair\u201d and said if he really wanted to shut it down for the season, he\u2019d do so and still go No. 1 in the NBA draft. His coach Bill Self, whose bluntness a week ago gave credence to many of these narratives about Peterson\u2019s availability, has taken the national media to task for those exact narratives.<\/p>\n
So I\u2019m here to provide the backlash to the backlash to the backlash.<\/p>\n
It can probably be summed up in one sentence: If we accept that no questions can be lodged about Peterson\u2019s heart, then something is really worrisome about Peterson\u2019s body.<\/p>\n
The freshman phenom has been terrific when he\u2019s on the court. But after hurting his hamstring early in his season, he\u2019s also missed time with cramping, ankle and quad issues and flu-like symptoms.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s played 465 minutes of a possible 1,130 — for comparison, teammate Melvin Council Jr. has been out there for 968 minutes. It\u2019s earned him an undeniably funny nickname from the haters based on his initials: DNP.<\/p>\n
This really hit a fever pitch earlier this month. Before Kansas faced undefeated No. 1 Arizona, Peterson was ruled out with flu-like symptoms 10 minutes before the game. The Jayhawks handed the Cats their first loss anyway. Then he scored 23 points at Oklahoma State but removed himself early in the second half and watched the rest of the game.<\/p>\n
At that point, Self — who\u2019s stuck up for his player all season and said he agreed with Peterson\u2019s family that the guard should only play when close to 100% — made his revelatory comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we were past it, but obviously we\u2019re not,\u201d Self said. \u201cIt\u2019s certainly a concern. You get into the NCAA Tournament, you\u2019re playing a team just as good as you and you need to have all your best players available, so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ah, proof! Peterson (specifically, any \u201cprotect yourself\u201d advice from his agent) was wearing on the Hall of Fame coach. The internet ran wild. What a bad teammate. These guys are paid now, so we can criticize them like professionals. And so on.<\/p>\n
Peterson even did one of the rarest things imaginable and got \u201cFirst Take\u201d to talk about college basketball before March, Stephen A. Smith declaring<\/a> that \u201cno team in hell\u201d should draft Peterson No. 1.<\/p>\n I agree, but not for the reason everyone seems to be settling on.<\/p>\n First of all, this class is loaded. AJ Dybantsa was the big thing coming out of high school. Cameron Boozer now looks like the can\u2019t-miss prospect of this group. Wait, I meant Caleb Wilson at North Carolina<\/a>. Then Arkansas\u2019 Darius Acuff dropped 49 points \u2013 41 in regulation! \u2013 after wearing a walking boot for two days, and the same night Peterson had a little cramp against Oklahoma State.<\/p>\n