Notebook | All agree: Confident Sene keeps improving

SALT LAKE CITY — When searching for improvement, it may not be easy to spot for some as they focus on Seattle rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, but all inside the Sonics locker room agree that Mouhamed Sene has grown since returning from the NBA Development League.

Sene, in his second professional season in the U.S., had one of his better games as a Sonic against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday when he finished with eight points and three rebounds in eight minutes.

The 6-foot-11 center is getting more playing time because of injuries to Chris Wilcox and Francisco Elson, though he saw just two minutes Saturday in the Sonics' 115-101 loss to Utah. Sene is expected to return to the Idaho Stampede for postseason, but that will not happen until the injuries of other Sonics heal. And Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said Sene could extend his stay by continuing to show progress.

"He's a lot more confident," forward Nick Collison said. "Everybody is really pulling for him."

Sene and guard Earl Watson are close, and the latter was glad to see Sene return.

"He told me that last year he never really recovered from the time difference," said Watson of Sene, who is Senegalese. "It was funny because I've never heard that before.

"But he's not afraid to go get anything [on the court]. And he plays with so much energy and passion, you love to have that around. He's like the little brother everyone covets."

Wilcox out

Chris Wilcox missed his second consecutive game because of a sprained right pinkie finger. He said he couldn't tell if the injury was progressing or not because he hadn't tested it.

Wilcox would like a second opinion and could return for the Portland game Monday at KeyArena.

Home sweet home?

The Sonics play their next seven games at home, but Watson isn't so sure that's an advantage outside of being able to sleep in his own bed and have the team receive injury treatment.

"I've never heard so many people cheer for the other team," he said of Seattle's game against Phoenix on Wednesday.

The Sonics have won fewer games than their counterpart, the Storm, and are going through an emotional relocation battle, so apathy is understandable. Yet, for the Phoenix game, seemingly the entire arena cheered for the Suns.

"I don't remember it being like that," said Watson, a fourth-year Sonic.