SPOKANE, WA — The most hyped freshman season in Lawrence since Andrew Wiggins ended with a blur of crimson and a ball kissing the glass. Dylan Darling drove the length of the hardwood and dropped a contested layup as the horn sounded, lifting Washington State to a 67-65 upset over Kansas in the 2026 NCAA Tournament Second Round. The loss shutters the collegiate chapter for Darryn Peterson, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
For forty minutes, the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena felt like a pressure cooker. Kansas clawed back from a nine-point second-half deficit, leaning on Peterson’s physical drives and a late surge from the perimeter. With six seconds left, the game sat tied. Darling took the inbound, navigated a high screen, and sliced through the Jayhawks’ interior defense. His layup hung on the rim for an eternity before falling, sending the Washington State bench into a frenzy and leaving Peterson rooted to the floor. Peterson finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds, but the stat sheet couldn’t capture the weight of the moment.
The Jayhawks struggled to find rhythm early, shooting just 34% from the floor in the first half. While Peterson found his “juice” late, the supporting cast faltered against the Cougars’ physical man-to-man pressure. The stadium shook as the clock hit zero, the roar of the underdog faithful drowning out the stunned silence of the Kansas traveling section. It was a classic March ambush—one that saw a blue-blood giant toppled by a veteran guard who refused to blink.
“He’s finally getting healthy at the right time. He’s getting that juice back in his tank to not be able to dance for a couple more games, that hurts. You see your brother getting talked about daily, you just want to prove everybody wrong… One of the best seasons I’ve ever seen from a young guy.”
— Tre White, Kansas Guard
Despite the early exit, Peterson’s stock remains arguably untouchable. Scouts in attendance noted his improved defensive lateral quickness and his ability to carry an offense when the system broke down. He hasn’t officially declared, but the consensus in league circles is that his time in Lawrence is over. He flashed the elite shot-making that has NBA front offices salivating, even if the consistency wasn’t fully realized over a full forty-minute stretch today.
Kansas now heads into an uncertain offseason. Coach Bill Self must replace his centerpiece while navigating a transfer portal that has become increasingly volatile. For Washington State, the Cinderella slippers fit perfectly as they advance to the Sweet 16, proving that in March, a senior guard with a head of steam often beats a superstar freshman with a draft profile.
