Catching up with Willie Warren

[Boomah]

From Emig/Tulsa World....

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=12#10802

Catching up with Willie Warren
2/23/2011 10:27:07 AM

Blake Griffin wasn’t the only Oklahoma Sooner on the Clippers’ bench last night in Oklahoma City. Willie Warren, fresh off his recall from the NBA Development League, joined him. The former OU guard didn’t exactly have the same impact on the game that Griffin did, but at least he got some run. Warren missed his only shot while finishing the last three minutes of the Thunder’s 111-88 blowout.

I spent five minutes with Warren before tipoff. He’s still a pleasant young guy, still as confident in himself as he was in college.

He’s also frustrated by his place on the end of the bench, something that takes some getting used to for all rookies.

“Talent-wise, this is exactly what I thought it would be. Other standpoints, like playing time and things like that, haven’t been what I thought they would be,” Warren said. “Me being a first-year player, I just have to be patient and wait for my time.

“It’s very hard. It’s tough when your whole life has been being that guy that plays 35-plus minutes. Now I’m playing none.”

Warren got plenty of time during his three-week stint with the D-League’s Bakersfield Jam. He averaged 21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range.

You wouldn’t blame him for missing OU, despite the wrong turns of his final season there.

“I’ve had my moments,” he admitted. “I look at college basketball now and I see guys with 30-plus (points) and I’m like, ‘It could have been different.’ But I’m here now. I cheer those guys on and hope for the best for them. But I have to focus on what’s best for me now.”

Warren said he and Sooners coach Jeff Capel “keep in contact as much as we can. He’s in his season now and I’m in mine. We can’t talk every day.”

He also follows OU’s progress.

“I watched the Missouri game, the Texas game, keep up with their record,” Warren said. “I was telling guys that we had three McDonald’s All-Americans, and we probably had the same record they do now. That’s actually a pretty good season.”

 

[seniorsooner]

Omg why is Capel wasting time talking to a former player when he could be recruiting???? Faaarrrr eeem!!!!

 

[StoopsBros]

“I watched the Missouri game, the Texas game, keep up with their record,” Warren said. “I was telling guys that we had three McDonald’s All-Americans, and we probably had the same record they do now. That’s actually a pretty good season.”

Um, what?

 

[Big Old Booger]

“I watched the Missouri game, the Texas game, keep up with their record,” Warren said. “I was telling guys that we had three McDonald’s All-Americans, and we probably had the same record they do now. That’s actually a pretty good season.”

Um, what?

I was trying to figure that out myself. :ez-laugh:

 

[ben]

I think he was pretty much dissing last year's time and commenting on how we have a bunch of top 1000 players that almost have the same final record. Which, by the way, I applaud him for.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I was trying to figure that out myself. :ez-laugh:

I'm just guessing, but what I "think" he is saying is that there were a bunch of underclassmen and new players being counted on to produce last season as well, and that this current group is doing just as well as a team that was "more talented".

Again, I'm totally speculating on that intent...but I think it is meant as a compliment to the current players from a guy that is presently playing in the NBA. Does anybody know if when he started in the D-League he claimed OU or was it his HS? (Football Joke...may not play as well on here.)

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I think he was pretty much dissing last year's time and commenting on how we have a bunch of top 1000 players that almost have the same final record. Which, by the way, I applaud him for.

Me too...shows he is growing up, because essentially in trying to be complimentary to the current guys, he is dissing himself as well. If we are right, then good for WW.

 

[StoopsBros]

I'm just guessing, but what I "think" he is saying is that there were a bunch of underclassmen and new players being counted on to produce last season as well, and that this current group is doing just as well as a team that was "more talented".

Again, I'm totally speculating on that intent...but I think it is meant as a compliment to the current players from a guy that is presently playing in the NBA. Does anybody know if when he started in the D-League he claimed OU or was it his HS? (Football Joke...may not play as well on here.)

You're probably spot-on. I still don't think any losing season is a "good season", maybe I'm wrong.

Haha on the player introductions part...That would be weird to see in the NBA...basketball players play on numerous HS teams, AAU or prep teams.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

You're probably spot-on. I still don't think any losing season is a "good season", maybe I'm wrong.

Haha on the player introductions part...That would be weird to see in the NBA...basketball players play on numerous HS teams, AAU or prep teams.

Actually, I think it would be more appropriate if most of the NBA kids just gave a shout-out to their AAU team. Although I do give credit to guys like Durant that are still working towards their degrees and stay tight with the program.

 

[Sooner918]

Omg why is Capel wasting time talking to a former player when he could be recruiting???? Faaarrrr eeem!!!!

ARGHHHH! GET RID OF HIM!

:ez-laugh:

 

[SoonerDan74012]

Me too...shows he is growing up, because essentially in trying to be complimentary to the current guys, he is dissing himself as well

That's exactly how I read that as well.

 

[NickZepp]

I'm sure Kelvin still talks to guys like Corey Brewer, Nate Erdmann, Renzi Stone and others pretty regularly now and he's an NBA assistant. I won't say that for 100% fact but I'm pretty certain of it. Barry Switzer has said it best a bunch of times. You don't recruit payers for 1 or 3 or 4 years. You recruit them for life.

 

[NickZepp]

I like WWs last comment. Pretty much dissed last year and a little bit complementary for last years because we lost top rated players. He seemed pretty positive about everything really.