NL triple draw, check/call/pat/push line

[MarkGritter]

I was fooling around at the 0.25/0.50 NL TD2-7 tables today. (Doesn't anybody ever give up a pat hand?)

I got this line played against me:

I catch a 9 to make 24579 on the second draw. My opponent who drew one checks, I bet $9 (about the size of the pot), and my opponent calls. So there is $28.30 in the pot. He stands pat and I stand pat behind.

On the fourth round he shoves the remainder of his stack ($23.10). I fold and he claims he had a wheel. Does his line make any sense?

Why wouldn't he just check-raise on the third round? Is he worried that I will fold if I'm still drawing?

Is this a deceptive play to attempt to appear weak? Can he expect that I will really call with more hands than I bet here?

I think this is awful--- in order for him to get paid here I have to either:

1. Bet the third round, stand pat, and be willing to call a push.
2. Bet the third round, draw, and make a good enough hand to call a push.
or
3. Check the third round but call a bigger push in a smaller pot after I make my draw.