By Jeff Wilson
Frogs Today senior writer
FORT WORTH — Micah Peavy gave himself three choices last year after entering the NCAA transfer portal.
He could fallow coach Chris Beard to Texas after he left Texas Tech, return to Tech, or join TCU.
Peavy, who played in high school at nearby Duncanville, chose the Horned Frogs.
On Tuesday night, he will be united with Beard at Schollmaier Arena.
TCU plays Texas for the first time since Beard jumped to his alma mater to replace Shaka Smart. Peavy has been in and out of the Frogs’ starting lineup, but he’s one of the best defenders on one of the Big 12 Conference’s best defensive teams.
He learned quality defense last season as a freshman at Texas Tech under Beard and new Red Raiders coach Mark Adams.
“He’s one of the best coaches in the country, so that’s why I considered going [to Texas],” Peavy said. “Beard, he takes pride in his defense. And then coach Adams as well does at Texas Tech. Just taking from those two great minds, I came here and off of what coach Dixon tells us about defense, I just put that into my game and want to be the best defensive player in the country.”
TCU wants Peavy to be a better offensive player.
He scored a season-high 11 points against Oklahoma, making most of his points driving to the basket, but he has been urged to shoot more from the outside. He works frequently on his shot, but he has been gun shy so far this season.
“I’m still working on it,” Peavy said. “There’s a lot stuff I’ve still got to work on, but that’s one thing that the coaches talk to me about and I get in my head about, like ‘I need to shoot. I need to have more confidence in my shot.’ But I think it’s coming together.”
Texas at TCU men
8 p.m. Tuesday, Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth
Records: Texas 14-5, 4-3 Big 12; TCU 13-3, 3-2
TV: ESPNU. Radio: KLIF/570 AM
About Texas: The Longhorns fell out of the AP Top 25 this week after going 1-1 at home last week. They are coming off a victory Saturday against Oklahoma State, which beat TCU last week in Stillwater. … For Texas, it’s been pretty simple in Big 12 play. In their four wins, they have allowed 54.9 points per game. In their three losses, opponents have averaged 69.7 points. Texas is undefeated when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points. … Eight transfers, including 4 of 5 probable starter, lead the Longhorns. Timmy Allen (Utah) and Marcus Carr (Minnesota) lead Texas in scored. Allen averages 11.7 points, and Carr averages 11. … Texas has won five straight games in the series and 22 of the past 29.
About TCU: The Frogs are coming off a 59-44 upset Saturday at No. 15 Iowa State. Damion Baugh scored a career-high 23 points and made seven steals to help a defensive effort that held the Cyclones to their fewest points at Hilton Coliseum. … Mike Miles Jr. failed to score in double figures for a third straight game, but he didn’t commit any turnovers and hit a short jumper that coach Jamie Dixon said was the dagger in Iowa State. … Chuck O’Bannon Jr. continues to be a steady contributor. He scored 10 against the Cyclones, had his a 3-pointer in eight straight games and is averaging 10 points per game. … Dixon is 6-7 vs. Texas as a coach but went 7-1 as a TCU player in the 1980s. … Brian Estridge returns to play-by-play duties on the radio call with John Denton as the analyst.
Jeff Wilson, jeff@frogstoday.com
