Sweet 16 Q&A - Timmy Allen
Scott Retzlaff, TexasSports.com
3/22/2023
TexasSports.com caught up with Timmy Allen prior to Texas Basketball's trip to the Sweet 16. The graduate senior has stuffed the stat sheet in his final collegiate season, averaging over 10 points and five rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Allen and the Longhorns will face Xavier on Friday night in Kansas City. For more on Texas Basketball in the NCAA Tournament, visit the Tournament Central and NCAA Experience pages below.
SR: What initially attracted you to the University of Texas and Texas Basketball to finish your collegiate career?
TA: I never took a visit. I had entered my name in the transfer portal, and I was open to anything. I wanted to go to a powerful school. I wanted to win championships and play around great players. I wanted to play for a coach who empowered me and let me be who I was. That’s the reason I wanted to come to Texas. I didn’t take a visit. It was during COVID, so I didn’t have that opportunity. But I was bought in since the day I committed, and ever since it’s been love, extreme love.
Just being here and being embedded in the history and what being a Longhorn stands for is more important to me than anything. I’m just happy I can represent that and hopefully push the needle forward.Timmy Allen on his experience at Texas
SR: How has the University of Texas and Texas Basketball experience lived up to your hopes and expectations?
TA: Way beyond what I could’ve imagined. I had only been to Dallas and Fort Worth to play basketball before this, so I had never really seen Texas. The Austin community blew me away. I’m much happier socially with my friends and teammates. I feel like I have people I can talk to. The community has just embraced me and loved me, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted. Just being here and being embedded in the history and what being a Longhorn stands for is more important to me than anything. I’m just happy I can represent that and hopefully push the needle forward.
SR: You haven’t been here that long but have built such a connection with fans and supporters of Texas Basketball. What’s your message for all of those people?
TA: It means a lot. The yelling I do in games is really just me reciprocating love. It’s really just me feeling. When I feel the emotion of the fans, the arena, and just Texas, it gets me going. I want to be remembered here. I want to be someone who is known to be a good teammate, a great ball player, and a great person. As far as embracing the fans at games, that’s honestly been the best part of it. Just living in the moment during the games, in crunch time getting an and one and screaming with them, it’s like we did it together. That’s something I’ll never take for granted. When I came in as a freshman and started yelling at Utah, I saw how people reacted to it. I’m so glad I could bring that passion and fire here and really feel the love reciprocated.
SR: Have you always played with such joy?
TA: Honestly, I think at first it was more playing out of anger, and now it’s turned into a joy in my life. At that point, I wasn’t as settled with myself, and I was playing with both passion and anger. I was playing for fun, but anger would come out with it. At this point, it’s turned into passion and love. It’s a testament to the game and how far I’ve come. It’s just passion and love. There’s no bad blood behind anything. When I’m yelling and screaming, I’m happy and am feeling the people around me. That’s something that is big for me.
celebrating 0??
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) March 3, 2023
thank you, @timmybuckets35 ?? pic.twitter.com/xcK2dY7n6c
To be able to walk around with the T-Ring, I’m so excited to flex my T-Ring to show that I went to Texas, graduated, and was an athlete, so it’s going to be surreal.Timmy Allen on his upcoming graduation
SR: I know that college degree has been a huge goal for you. What goes through your mind with that goal now so close?
TA: It’s a beautiful journey. I think the destination is the journey. I think getting my degree and graduating is just something that’s a product of the journey of hard work. It’s something that I never really imagined happening, but it’s something that my mom always wanted for me. I’m going to be walking on her birthday, which is going to be one of the crazier days of my life. It’s going to be so fun. To be able to walk around with the T-Ring, I’m so excited to flex my T-Ring to show that I went to Texas and graduated and was an athlete, so it’s going to be surreal. I’m very excited.
SR: You were able to be a part of the start of the Moody Center era of Texas Basketball. What have been your favorite parts of the new venue?
TA: It’s amazing. I was talking with Marcus (Carr) a week ago. We were reminiscing on Moody Center. I almost said that I took it for granted, which I know I didn’t. I embraced Moody Center to every capacity that I could, and man was it special. I think I was just thinking about the sadness of knowing I’d never get to play there again in that atmosphere. I had family and friends that said it’s the best atmosphere they’ve ever been in, and there’s really nothing close to it. The crowd, the history, the burnt orange, it's just special. Playing on that court, being the first to do that, and to go 16-1 at Moody Center, it’s good stuff.
SR: You dealt with an injury that kept you out of the Big 12 Tournament, but you were still so engaged with the games from the sideline. You seem to have such a great feel for the game whether you’re playing or on the sideline. Is coaching something you might be interested in down the road?
TA: People have asked me that, and I really don’t know. I love the game. I feel like I’m going to give so much of myself to the game that at that point, I might want to step away. But I know in my heart that I could be wrong. We’ll see. I love the game.
The Only Active Player in College Basketball with 1800pts, 800rebs and 300asts. “Top GLUE Guy in America”
— Compton Magic (@Compton_Magic) January 13, 2023
Timmy Allen @timmybuckets35 ??@TexasMBB @RodneyTerry @rj_arvizu @DreDay_RV_Zoo @CoachT_Miller @DraftExpress @MattBabcock11 @krystenpeek @PeyHeyrani
?? @isaacudoema pic.twitter.com/gDdFTYOVDr
SR: Who has been your favorite player to compete against in your college career?
TA: I’ll go with practice, and this past summer’s practices were crazy. As far as games go, I battle everybody, so I’m not going to give that to any specific player.
SR: What’s something we don’t know about Timmy Allen?
TA: When I’m not playing basketball, I’m more reserved. I think a lot of people don’t really know my character or what I really value. I value my brothers, my friends, my family. I like to sing. I like to sing a lot in my free time actually. I think what people may not know is my true character and that I’m a really giving person.
SR: You also like to dance based on the social media clip following the Penn State win. Are you the top dancer on the team?
TA: I’m really not. I’ve got a little rhythm if I have to, though.
some SWEET moves ?? pic.twitter.com/HIzY7UmCXL
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) March 19, 2023
SR: This year’s team seems to have such a great bond. Can you describe the journey this team has taken and how connected this group is?
TA: I think it’s just something that’s been built over time. I think it started last summer with us coming in with a goal and then just maturing and growing over time. We’ve been realistic with what we have to do to get our goals achieved. We’ve just grown and molded closer to each other over time and throughout everything that’s happened. I think whether it’s good times, bad times, or hard times, they’ll either bring you closer together or further apart. We just decided to come closer together. That’s a testament to each person and their character.
SR: Are you superstitious and/or do you have any particular pregame rituals?
TA: I always eat the same kind of fruit snacks before I go out for warmups. That’s one of my stupid ones that I’m going to tell you. I’m going to keep my good ones and important ones to myself.
