Texas Tech basketball: 5 pleasant surprises in 2020-21 season

Micah Peavy’s street-dog mentality

Playing for Chris Beard isn’t for everyone.  That’s why we’ve seen a number of high-end recruits and even one big-time transfer leave the program in the past few seasons.

But one player who fully embraced Beard’s street-dog mentality is Micah Peavy, who had an impressive freshman season.  Given how highly regarded he was as a prospect, that was certainly refreshing to see.

Remember, the Duncanville native came to Lubbock as the No. 44 player in the nation and the No. 2 player in Texas.  Thus, there was every reason to wonder if he would be willing to embrace the Texas Tech basketball culture.

Fortunately, he not only embraced it, but he also came to embody it as well.  While I don’t have any stats to support this assertion, it seemed to me that no player on this year’s roster was involved in more 50/50 plays and sacrificed his wellbeing more than Peavy.   That’s an encouraging sign from a former 4-star recruit.

Statistically, Peavy’s season was strong, if not spectacular, by freshman standards.  Starting 25 of 29 games, the 6-foot-7 forward was able to put up 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

While those numbers don’t compare to what we have recently seen out of players like Jahmi’us Ramsey, Jarrett Culver, and Zhaire Smith in their freshman seasons, they are indicative of a player who is going to be part of this program’s foundation moving forward.

Peavy does have plenty of room to grow.  He must become a better finisher off the dribble and his jump shot needs plenty of work, especially from 3-point range.

But the attitude and willingness to play Texas Tech’s brand of basketball are already there.  That’s refreshing to see from one of the highest-rated players to ever don the Scarlet and Black.