Why TCU basketball is ‘considering’ pulling Mickey Pearson’s redshirt
Post depth is an area of concern for TCU men’s basketball more than one month into the season.
The Horned Frogs sustained a blow when reserve center Russell Barlow entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal earlier this week, leaving the team without a true backup to starting center Kevin Samuel.
Barlow wasn’t a star player by any means, but he provided nice length and size (6-foot-10, 235 pounds) off the bench.
With his departure, TCU now has just three guys in its nine-man rotation who are at least 6-foot-7 in Samuel (6-foot-11), Ohio State transfer Jaedon LeDee (6-foot-9) and freshman Diante Smith (6-foot-7).
It’s left coach Jamie Dixon and his staff contemplating whether freshman Mickey Pearson Jr. should redshirt this season. Pearson, a 6-foot-7 forward, could become another option in the post if the team opts to burn his redshirt.
“There’s been some consideration,” Dixon said after TCU’s 70-60 victory over Winthrop on Wednesday night.
Pearson has been battling an illness of late, though, and Dixon said that’s why he wasn’t with the team — and therefore even an option to play — during Wednesday’s game.
But Dixon expressed confidence in his current rotation and feels it’s good enough to compete and win games when Big 12 play gets underway next month.
Dixon likes the strides that LeDee has taken since obtaining an immediate eligibility waiver, and feels young players such as Smith will start to flourish with more experience under their belt.
“I like our nine,” Dixon said. “I like our rotation. I think we’ve got the right guys. It just needs to keep getting better, cut down on some mental mistakes and get more physical. We got banged around a little bit too much today, especially early.”
Pearson joined TCU as a three-star prospect out of Hargrave Military (Va.). The hope has been to allow him time to develop with a redshirt season, much like the team is doing with fellow freshman Taryn Todd.
But circumstances change and TCU could feel its in the best interest to have Pearson play this season. Unlike in football, there is not a limit on the number of games a basketball player can participate in and still remain eligible for a redshirt.
TCU has three non-conference games left before the Big 12 season gets underway against Iowa State on Jan. 4.
The Frogs’ next game is against Lamar on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena.
