Warren undecided about NBA >>> Tulsa World

[seniorsooner]

Well like I said it's not like Willie stepped onto campus dominating the basketball. If he can learn to relax and let TMG help bring the game to him he could be a monster.

 

[SoonerfanTU]

Some people have come to the conclusion that a backcourt of TMG and Willie just won't work, but if he comes back and they can find a way to co-exist that could be a dynamic duo for us.

I don't think it's that easy. This isn't a Willie/TMG thing, it's simply using basketball common sense. Certain players, certain styles, certain strengths just don't play well together. Who is going to take a back seat? They "both" can't be the ball handling leader.

Those two guys just don't have a skill set that mesh well. Might they make things "better" next year? Maybe. But that better still might not be very good. Throw in the fact that both are below average defenders, and that is another reason it'll be hard for OU to be too much improved next year with both guys starting along side each other.

Of course, maybe Willie comes back and TMG leaves. That'd be something many of us didn't see coming.

 

[Cheno]

Well like I said it's not like Willie stepped onto campus dominating the basketball. If he can learn to relax and let TMG help bring the game to him he could be a monster.

Yeah, I don't know where this TMG and WW both have to dominate the ball so it won't work stuff has come from. WW didn't dominate the ball as a frosh and he looked just fine.

 

[seniorsooner]

How about this lineup?

TMG
WW
Cade
Tiny
N'Diaye?

Bench:
Fitz
Pledger
Cam
TJ Taylor
Daniel West (JUCO PG)
Another JUCO big man?
Orlando

Towel waiver (only 1 gets a schollie):
Hardrick?
Willis?
Honore?

 

[playmakr]

Yeah, I don't know where this TMG and WW both have to dominate the ball so it won't work stuff has come from. WW didn't dominate the ball as a frosh and he looked just fine.

I don't get it either. Willie can ball. TMG can ball. No reason they can't run together.

 

[pnkranger]

How about this lineup?

TMG
WW
Cade
Tiny
N'Diaye?

Bench:
Fitz
Pledger
Cam
TJ Taylor
Daniel West (JUCO PG)
Another JUCO big man?
Orlando

Towel waiver (only 1 gets a schollie):
Hardrick?
Willis?
Honore?

This is actually a really nice lineup if we can get a juco big man who can run the floor in transition and guard some of the hybrid 4s. We would have a lot of good pieces for sure.

 

[campbest]

TMG and WW are both good players, but neither one complement each other's game very well. Go back and watch tape, the ball movement with those two as our lead guards is awful. Neither one want to move off picks and their game is primarily catching from 25 ft out and trying to create space off the dribble. The whole offense is stagnant.

I don't buy the comparison that WW can defer because of his freshman season, those two teams are entirely different. Most dominant player in the country (without a doubt), offense ran through the post instead of outside-in. Could see it working if we went through Gallon first, but that would make TMG the third option which I don't see happening because he is a scoring PG (right now).

Also, IMO WW's main goal is to go high in the draft, which I have no problem with. For that to happen, he is going to have to show he can run the PG spot because he sure isn't playing SG in the league. With TMG on campus now and Capel supposedly looking at JUCO PGs as a backup, there won't be any minutes for WW. I think WW needs to head to the pre-draft camps/workouts, his stock will rebound enough to be drafted.

 

[SoonerfanTU]

TMG and WW are both good players, but neither one complement each other's game very well. Go back and watch tape, the ball movement with those two as our lead guards is awful. Neither one want to move off picks and their game is primarily catching from 25 ft out and trying to create space off the dribble. The whole offense is stagnant.

I don't buy the comparison that WW can defer because of his freshman season, those two teams are entirely different. Most dominant player in the country (without a doubt), offense ran through the post instead of outside-in. Could see it working if we went through Gallon first, but that would make TMG the third option which I don't see happening because he is a scoring PG (right now).

Also, IMO WW's main goal is to go high in the draft, which I have no problem with. For that to happen, he is going to have to show he can run the PG spot because he sure isn't playing SG in the league. With TMG on campus now and Capel supposedly looking at JUCO PGs as a backup, there won't be any minutes for WW. I think WW needs to head to the pre-draft camps/workouts, his stock will rebound enough to be drafted.

Nice post. I agree with all of that.

It isn't a knock on Willie or TMG when I say they can't play together. It's just the way it is. Not all pieces fit together, no matter how "good" they are.

 

[aaron7]

i talked about this with some friends after saturday's game, and i said it was because his role didn't become so increased until after the season got rolling. it was too hard for him to be thrust into that role that such a short amount of time. i know cade will be that guy after he lets this season brew in his mind heading into the summer.

Agree 100%. It took playing this year to earn respect from the young guys. They saw the way he prepared and the effort he gave all year. This should allow him to be that guy next year, if they'll listen.

 

[luckyc1423]

TMG and WW are both good players, but neither one complement each other's game very well. Go back and watch tape, the ball movement with those two as our lead guards is awful. Neither one want to move off picks and their game is primarily catching from 25 ft out and trying to create space off the dribble. The whole offense is stagnant.

I don't buy the comparison that WW can defer because of his freshman season, those two teams are entirely different. Most dominant player in the country (without a doubt), offense ran through the post instead of outside-in. Could see it working if we went through Gallon first, but that would make TMG the third option which I don't see happening because he is a scoring PG (right now).

Also, IMO WW's main goal is to go high in the draft, which I have no problem with. For that to happen, he is going to have to show he can run the PG spot because he sure isn't playing SG in the league. With TMG on campus now and Capel supposedly looking at JUCO PGs as a backup, there won't be any minutes for WW. I think WW needs to head to the pre-draft camps/workouts, his stock will rebound enough to be drafted.

the offense seemed pretty stagnant even when willie warren was hurt...I think some people are overlooking the fact that tmg loves to dribble...he doesnt swing the ball quickly at all...the prob could be tmg...bringing ww back gives us more options and we will be able to bench people if they are not playing team basketball....

 

[hendawg]

TMG is the one people should be worried about leaving.

 

[Guitardeth]

TMG is the one people should be worried about leaving.

Why do you say that? where's he going?

 

[OU84]

Yeah, I don't know where this TMG and WW both have to dominate the ball so it won't work stuff has come from. WW didn't dominate the ball as a frosh and he looked just fine.

As long as he realizes this we will be okay.

 

[campbest]

the offense seemed pretty stagnant even when willie warren was hurt...I think some people are overlooking the fact that tmg loves to dribble...he doesnt swing the ball quickly at all...the prob could be tmg...bringing ww back gives us more options and we will be able to bench people if they are not playing team basketball....

We will have more options to bench people next year with Cade, Pledger, TJ Taylor and probably a JUCO PG/SG.

TMG loves to dribble, there is no doubt, so who do you play? WW or TMG? Neither one has demonstrated any need to work off the ball. IMO, Capel has a decision to make, either give WW the time he wants and let him bolt after next year (which will happen if he is productive) or build around a young PG who is going to be on campus for at least two more years due to his lack of height and draft upside.

They may decide over the summer to play better together, it's a possibility. But I just don't see it, both of them want to score and both need the ball in their hands to be effective.

 

[luckyc1423]

We will have more options to bench people next year with Cade, Pledger, TJ Taylor and probably a JUCO PG/SG.

TMG loves to dribble, there is no doubt, so who do you play? WW or TMG? Neither one has demonstrated any need to work off the ball. IMO, Capel has a decision to make, either give WW the time he wants and let him bolt after next year (which will happen if he is productive) or build around a young PG who is going to be on campus for at least two more years due to his lack of height and draft upside.

They may decide over the summer to play better together, it's a possibility. But I just don't see it, both of them want to score and both need the ball in their hands to be effective.

I think you play whoever is playing best...but I do believe they can learn to play together...I just think they have to learn how to hustle on defense because neither one seem to this year

 

[hendawg]

Why do you say that? where's he going?

Pro.

 

[seniorsooner]

Pro.

Where's he going to play, Kazakhstan?

 

[Sooner Quick]

“I’m focused on getting my ankle full strength, because if it isn’t at full strength, I really don’t have a choice to make. It’s going to be coming back to Oklahoma,” the sophomore guard said Monday afternoon. “In order for me to have options, I need to go to all my rehab sessions and do everything right to be able to make those choices.”

I said as soon as he had the surgery I thought he would be coming back. To me it sounds more and more like he is from quotes I've read in this article and the other article posted at the top.

 

[StatGeek]

We will have more options to bench people next year with Cade, Pledger, TJ Taylor and probably a JUCO PG/SG.

TMG loves to dribble, there is no doubt, so who do you play? WW or TMG? Neither one has demonstrated any need to work off the ball. IMO, Capel has a decision to make, either give WW the time he wants and let him bolt after next year (which will happen if he is productive) or build around a young PG who is going to be on campus for at least two more years due to his lack of height and draft upside.

They may decide over the summer to play better together, it's a possibility. But I just don't see it, both of them want to score and both need the ball in their hands to be effective.

TMG is our PG, PG's don't play offense "off the ball" thats why they are PG's. I didn't realize that Cousy, Stockton, I Thomas, O Robertson, Nash, M Jackson, T Hardaway & CP3 (just to name a few)played off the ball so frequently.

WW on the other hand does need to work harder to receive the ball in a better position to score. Simply lingering around the perimeter all the time does us no favors.

 

[MercedeSooner]

Capel has to have a serious sitdown with Willie or urge him to leave.