TU's Peete Returns Home With Big Tournament Hopes

The Conference-USA tournament is a homecoming for Tim Peete. The sophomore guard has risen to a prominent role with the Golden Hurricane this season.

Peete leads TU back to his hometown of Memphis this week to battle the rest of the league for the conference crown. The tournament is a chance to Peete to perform in front of his family and friends.

"Everybody knows, growing up in Memphis, it's a dream to play at home anywhere you are," he said before Tulsa (17-13, 10-6 C-USA) left for Tennessee.

Peete scored two points in 15 minutes against the Memphis Tigers in the regular season finale last weekend at the Reynolds Center. In 30 games this season, Peete is averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest.

He grew up with thoughts of playing for his hometown Tigers but opted for the Golden Hurricane instead.

"I just grew up and, preferably, Coach (Doug) Wojcik was the one that knocked on my door first," said Peete. "I ran at the opportunity to play for a coach that coached at the places he's coached."

Peete's goal this week is to upend the league favorites just a few minutes down the road from his old high school. Last season Peete helped TU to a 3-point road win over the Tigers. It was just the sixth time in two seasons that Memphis lost on its home floor.

Now, Peete wants to do it again with all the chips on the table.

"It's something that I want to bring back to Tulsa," he said. "That will probably be my greatest legacy left here."

Tulsa has a bye in Wednesday's first round of games. Tulsa will face Marshall at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.