Post by fjs64 on Apr 28, 2005 9:27:56 GMT -5
Nice article from the OTH on Willie.
Willie Morse would be the first one to admit his personality is far different from most of the 4,500 some players that line the country’s 330 Division I basketball rosters.
In a sport that is influenced more and more every minute by hip-hop culture, Morse’s persona, appearance, and game are considered sacrilegious in most basketball circles. He doesn’t wear baggy jeans, doesn’t listen to Jay-Z, Nas or 50 Cent, he can’t throw down a reverse windmill dunk, can’t break a defender’s ankles with a killer crossover, and is the first one up for a political debate.
“I’m definitely a different kind of guy,” he said. “I’m a country kid.”<br>That doesn’t mean he didn’t fit in with his teammates at St. Bonaventure this season. And that isn’t the reason the State College, Pa. native is transferring after one season in Olean.
To be sure, Morse’s basketball makeup is better suited for Colgate University and the Patriot League, and it just so happens that so is his mental makeup.
But he’s thankful for his time at Bona. He was a fan favorite on the court for his gritty, yet unspectacular play, and adored by classmates off the court for his down-to-earth personality.
At a school where basketball players are seen as celebrities and untouchables by most, Morse would just as soon go fishing with a fellow student from down the dorm hall.
And he doesn’t regret any of the choices he’s made.
“I would’ve done the same thing,” Morse said of selecting Bona. “I’m a big fan of everything happens for a reason. Maybe going to Colgate, I’ll appreciate the situation even more after going through this year. No matter what, you’ll always learn something. You use it as a learning experience, a chance to grow, and another opportunity to learn.”<br>Indeed, Morse, who led his high school team to a state title his junior season, can always look back on the year he was part of a 2-26 squad. Even more, he rarely saw the court over the second half of the season after showing spurts of promise early on.
“That’s tough,” Morse said of not playing. “As a competitive person coming from a winning program where I was the focal point, that’s obviously hard.”<br>The 6-3 guard signed with Bona coach Anthony Solomon in the spring of 2004 with the expectation he would be an integral piece of the Bonnies complicated rebuilding puzzle that resulted from the Jamil-Terrell eligibility scandal of 2003.
Coming into this past season, Morse was seen as a role player who could cause opponents problems with his outside touch. In early December he registered a career high 10 points and four assists in a loss to Cornell and figured to see more action there after.
Instead he fought to hit shots from the perimeter in limited court time, and struggled in adjusting to the speed of major college basketball.
Even so, Morse believes things could’ve been different.
“The big thing is I was told that (the Bona coaching staff) needed me to play and contribute right away,” he said. “They said they really needed a shooter on the perimeter. I felt I worked hard and progressed and I thought when I had the opportunity I played well. I was waiting, saying, ‘When am I going to get another chance?’<br>“I would’ve had no problem looking at playing in prep school for a year and keeping my commitment to them,” he added. “But they said ‘We need you right now.’”
After averaging nearly 10 minutes of action over the first 20 games of the season, Morse played a total of five minutes over the last eight, and didn’t play at all in each of the last half dozen contests.
Morse got the message. He was supposed to be a key piece of the future but was riding the bench as the team continued to lose. He knew a change of scenery was a necessity.
Morse has faith in Colgate coach Emmett Davis and assistant coach Kevin Curley. After all, Curley and Morse both played basketball at State College High School.
“I wanted a straight-forward response of how (Colgate) saw me fitting in and playing at that level,” Morse said. “I felt really comfortable with what they were saying. I’ve known Kevin since the third grade so I trust him.
“It’s an established program,” he added. “Coach Davis has been there seven years. They’re not building, they’re a year or two away. They’re right there and it’s a program where I can be an impact player and a go-to guy.”<br>Colgate finished 12-16 this past winter after three straight winning seasons under Davis.
Morse, who majored in communications at Bona, plans to do the same at Colgate. The volunteer member of the Pennsylvania state Fish and Game Commission whose hobbies include playing paintball, hunting and fishing, is also considering environmental science.
Since this past season concluded in March, Morse has worked out with former teammate Brian Gibbs, who is also expected transfer, and will continue into the summer with workouts back home in State College with his old high school coach and his father, a former college player himself.
“I’m hungry,” he said. “You sit there and watch your team struggle and not play that much and you realize it’s not for me. That’s something that makes you work hard.”<br>In fact, Morse will have plenty of time to hone his skills. Per NCAA transfer rules, he will not be eligible to play in games this upcoming season but will be allowed to practice.
“You can never totally prepare yourself for something like that,” Morse said of sitting out a year. “Every year since I was a kid I’ve been playing basketball. But I can see the big picture. I set goals and this is a stage I have to go through.”<br>(Vinny Pezzimenti is a sports writer for The Times Herald)
©The Times Herald, Olean, N.Y. 2005
Willie Morse would be the first one to admit his personality is far different from most of the 4,500 some players that line the country’s 330 Division I basketball rosters.
In a sport that is influenced more and more every minute by hip-hop culture, Morse’s persona, appearance, and game are considered sacrilegious in most basketball circles. He doesn’t wear baggy jeans, doesn’t listen to Jay-Z, Nas or 50 Cent, he can’t throw down a reverse windmill dunk, can’t break a defender’s ankles with a killer crossover, and is the first one up for a political debate.
“I’m definitely a different kind of guy,” he said. “I’m a country kid.”<br>That doesn’t mean he didn’t fit in with his teammates at St. Bonaventure this season. And that isn’t the reason the State College, Pa. native is transferring after one season in Olean.
To be sure, Morse’s basketball makeup is better suited for Colgate University and the Patriot League, and it just so happens that so is his mental makeup.
But he’s thankful for his time at Bona. He was a fan favorite on the court for his gritty, yet unspectacular play, and adored by classmates off the court for his down-to-earth personality.
At a school where basketball players are seen as celebrities and untouchables by most, Morse would just as soon go fishing with a fellow student from down the dorm hall.
And he doesn’t regret any of the choices he’s made.
“I would’ve done the same thing,” Morse said of selecting Bona. “I’m a big fan of everything happens for a reason. Maybe going to Colgate, I’ll appreciate the situation even more after going through this year. No matter what, you’ll always learn something. You use it as a learning experience, a chance to grow, and another opportunity to learn.”<br>Indeed, Morse, who led his high school team to a state title his junior season, can always look back on the year he was part of a 2-26 squad. Even more, he rarely saw the court over the second half of the season after showing spurts of promise early on.
“That’s tough,” Morse said of not playing. “As a competitive person coming from a winning program where I was the focal point, that’s obviously hard.”<br>The 6-3 guard signed with Bona coach Anthony Solomon in the spring of 2004 with the expectation he would be an integral piece of the Bonnies complicated rebuilding puzzle that resulted from the Jamil-Terrell eligibility scandal of 2003.
Coming into this past season, Morse was seen as a role player who could cause opponents problems with his outside touch. In early December he registered a career high 10 points and four assists in a loss to Cornell and figured to see more action there after.
Instead he fought to hit shots from the perimeter in limited court time, and struggled in adjusting to the speed of major college basketball.
Even so, Morse believes things could’ve been different.
“The big thing is I was told that (the Bona coaching staff) needed me to play and contribute right away,” he said. “They said they really needed a shooter on the perimeter. I felt I worked hard and progressed and I thought when I had the opportunity I played well. I was waiting, saying, ‘When am I going to get another chance?’<br>“I would’ve had no problem looking at playing in prep school for a year and keeping my commitment to them,” he added. “But they said ‘We need you right now.’”
After averaging nearly 10 minutes of action over the first 20 games of the season, Morse played a total of five minutes over the last eight, and didn’t play at all in each of the last half dozen contests.
Morse got the message. He was supposed to be a key piece of the future but was riding the bench as the team continued to lose. He knew a change of scenery was a necessity.
Morse has faith in Colgate coach Emmett Davis and assistant coach Kevin Curley. After all, Curley and Morse both played basketball at State College High School.
“I wanted a straight-forward response of how (Colgate) saw me fitting in and playing at that level,” Morse said. “I felt really comfortable with what they were saying. I’ve known Kevin since the third grade so I trust him.
“It’s an established program,” he added. “Coach Davis has been there seven years. They’re not building, they’re a year or two away. They’re right there and it’s a program where I can be an impact player and a go-to guy.”<br>Colgate finished 12-16 this past winter after three straight winning seasons under Davis.
Morse, who majored in communications at Bona, plans to do the same at Colgate. The volunteer member of the Pennsylvania state Fish and Game Commission whose hobbies include playing paintball, hunting and fishing, is also considering environmental science.
Since this past season concluded in March, Morse has worked out with former teammate Brian Gibbs, who is also expected transfer, and will continue into the summer with workouts back home in State College with his old high school coach and his father, a former college player himself.
“I’m hungry,” he said. “You sit there and watch your team struggle and not play that much and you realize it’s not for me. That’s something that makes you work hard.”<br>In fact, Morse will have plenty of time to hone his skills. Per NCAA transfer rules, he will not be eligible to play in games this upcoming season but will be allowed to practice.
“You can never totally prepare yourself for something like that,” Morse said of sitting out a year. “Every year since I was a kid I’ve been playing basketball. But I can see the big picture. I set goals and this is a stage I have to go through.”<br>(Vinny Pezzimenti is a sports writer for The Times Herald)
©The Times Herald, Olean, N.Y. 2005
