Peavy scores career-high 21 points as TCU basketball rolls Southern in season opener

Despite a slow start, TCU handled its business in the season opener against the scrappy Southern Jaguars with a 108-75 victory.

“I liked some things, obviously got off to a slow start, but we scored 108 points,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “A 33-point win, defensively we’re not where we need to be. I liked our running, our transition was tremendous.”

Despite the final margin Southern actually led the Horned Frogs 14-8 early as TCU forward Emanuel Miller was sidelined with foul trouble and the Jaguars knocked down a couple of contested jumpers.

But the lead was short-lived as TCU used a 12-2 burst to get back in front. The decisive run came with just under 10 minutes remaining.

After a Jaguars bucket cut their deficit to 22-21, Trevian Tennyson sparked a run that would blow the game open. Tennyson hit back-to-back 3-pointers — including one just in the front of the halfcourt logo. Jameer Nelson Jr. hit a smooth pull-up jumper after Tennyson’s second 3 to make it 35-24 with 6:08 remaining in the first half.

TCU would maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the way to make a nice first impression in front of the TCU fans.

The Horned Frogs take on Omaha at 7 p.m. Thursday at Schollmaier Arena.

Here’s what we learned in the season opener.

Peavy’s career day

Many around TCU’s program believed Micah Peavy was poised for a breakout year and it didn’t take long for the talented senior to show what could be in store. Peavy got the start at shooting guard and had the best game of his career as he set a new career-high with 21 points.

“I felt great, but I got those points because guys like JaKobe and Avery were unselfish with the ball,” Peavy said. “They found me when I cut, I felt like as a team we played very unselfish.”

Peavy’s shot behind the arc and at the free-throw line wasn’t falling, but that didn’t deter him from putting up points. Peavy thrived in transition with three dunks and used his size and improved ball-handling to get into the paint, like when he went straight past a defender for a layup just before the halftime buzzer to make it 54-35.

In the second half Peavy scored six straight points, all in the paint, to make it 63-35 with 17:24 to play. Peavy played tremendous defense and even had four assists. It’s just the first game, but if Peavy can come close to this type of production on semi-regular basis then it’ll only make TCU more dangerous.

A confident Coles

When TCU’s half-court offense was struggling early against the Jaguars it was Coles that provided a spark until the team could get in a rhythm. Cole scored the first basket of the night with a baseline jumper after TCU secured an offensive rebound.

Cole added another mid-range bucket and then converted a three-point play to make it 38-26 late in the first half. The power forward drilled a 3-pointer during that stretch as well and was the first Horned Frog to reach double digits.

“He’s playing really well, at times I think he can be our all-around best player,” Dixon said. “He’s playing better defensively, he did some good things today defensively.”

Southern attempted to go to a 1-3-1 zone to start the second half in an effort to slow down TCU, but Coles immediately hit a 3-pointer to pull the Jaguars out of that defense. Cole did most of his damage from the free throw line in the second half to finish with 17. The hero of TCU’s NCAA Tournament win over Arizona State last season, Coles could have a big role for TCU offensively as a stretch four.

Transfer backcourt dazzles

Replacing Mike Miles Jr. and Damion Baugh will be the toughest challenge for this year’s TCU team as that duo was arguably the most dynamic in the Big 12. On Monday, the Horned Frogs showed how they reloaded to replace the stars as the new guards had impressive stretches during the win over the Jaguars.

Let’s start with Nelson. The son of the former NBA All-Star has already drawn comparison to Miles and showed why in the opener. The transfer from Delaware is a compact, physical guard that seems built to score. After missing his first shot, Nelson made five in a row from all over the court. There was his spin move just before halftime that put TCU ahead by 20, he knocked down a 3-pointer and had a flashy transition dunk to finish with 11 points in the first half.

When he wasn’t scoring he was getting his teammates in position to score with good passes as he led the team with 14 points and six assists.

Oklahoma State transfer Avery Anderson was another big pickup who waited for Baugh’s decision before committing to TCU. The experienced Big 12 guard was a terror on defense and helped TCU get back in the game when Southern was building confidence.

He knocked down a pull-up 3-pointer to make it 16-13 and then found Nelson for a 3-pointer to tie at up at 16. Anderson put a lot of pressure on the Southern defense with his slashing ability and if he wasn’t scoring or getting fouled he was handing out assists as he produced 15 points and five assists off the bench.

TCU coach Jamie Dixon compared Tennyson to TCU legend Desmond Bane because of his shooting ability and after the first game maybe it’s not such a crazy idea? Tennyson added another 3-pointer in the second half and finished with 13.

Strong star for TCU women’s hoops

A few hours before the Horned Frogs dispatched Southern, Mark Campbell got off to a great start in his first game as the head coach of TCU women’s basketball.

The Horned Frogs defeated Oral Roberts 76-56 after outscoring the Golden Eagles by 12 in the first and third quarters.

TCU was led by Arizona transfer Madison Conner, who scored 30 points on just 19 shots and drained six 3-pointers and added 11 rebounds. Oregon transfer Sedona Prince also had a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Horned Frogs host Texas A&M-Kingsville at 6:30 pm. Wednesday.