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Notes, Quotes and Slants
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Pirate
Notebook No. 240
Friday, May 6, 2005
By Denny O'Brien |
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Cook loss a blessing in
disguise
©2005 Bonesville.net
Life at East Carolina will continue without
Mike Cook. The case can even be argued that the quality of it within the
basketball program has improved now that the embattled guard will finish his
career elsewhere.
Perhaps no player in ECU's hoops history
was more of an enigma. Though as physically gifted as any to ever wear a
Pirates uniform, Cook also was one of the most challenging to coach.
The optimism following Cook's first season
couldn't have been higher. After averaging double figures in scoring and
ushering a no-fear approach into the program, many felt the streetballer
from Philadelphia would develop into the best in school history.
He was tough, had an infectious swagger and
an incredible knack for creating his own shot in traffic. The more chaotic
the game's pace became, the better Cook performed. The more off balance he appeared to be, the
higher was the percentage that his shot would tickle the twine.
"I've seen him for about three years,"
Virginia coach Dave Leitao said last year while at DePaul. "I remember him
as almost like a four man, a wing player who bodies guys down low.
"To make the transition as he has is
amazing, and to play it so confidently is even more amazing from the
standpoint of this team has been together for a little while. They've got
some seniors who have contributed a lot of games for Billy (former ECU coach
Bill Herrion).
"To have a guy step into that role and play like he's been here
for a long time is very unique in today's game. It speaks to his level of
maturity."
An evaluation after year two would read
much different. While his scoring production improved, Cook's inability to
make sound decisions often outweighed those contributions.
His natural inclination was to shoot, and
at times it seemed as if he was on a mission to launch at least 20 shots
from the floor. That's a generous number even for the purest of
shooters, a distinction with which Cook has never been associated.
On a good night, he was at best an average
perimeter shooter. But on most occasions, he reinforced the fact that his
outside shot was one of the glaring weaknesses of his game.
And that wasn't the area in which he
struggled the most.
Cook's carelessness with the basketball was
an Achilles' heel that often kept the Pirates in jeopardy of 20-turnover
performances. His lack of intensity and determination as a defender
surfaced gaping holes that often led to easy baskets for the opposition.
In a nutshell, Cook is a true tweener whose
basketball niche to date has been almost exclusively as a scorer. His
success moving forward will depend largely on where he lands and his ability to
mature, as well as his willingness to sharpen all areas of his game.
Two years into his college career, Cook has
neither the skills nor the demeanor to handle the chores of an adequate
floor general. His outside shot isn't consistent enough to be a true
two-guard and his height can be an issue against many small forwards.
He may best serve his next team in a supporting role,
playing 20 minutes and providing spurts of instant offense.
This isn't to suggest that Cook won't be
missed. To a certain degree, he leaves a void that will be difficult to
fill.
Of all the players on last year's roster,
he was the only one capable of taking complete control of a game by
shouldering the scoring load. On any given night, Mike the Magician could
Houdini his way to 25 points.
But in the end, there were just too many
nights when his exceptional talents were not apparent or were more than
offset by his deficiencies — especially during
times of adversity.
When Cook's shot didn't drop, the other
areas of his game suffered and there was a noticeable lack of effort. And
judging by his mannerisms, it was apparent that the numbers on the stats
sheet carried more weight than the ones on the scoreboard.
It's for this reason that Cook's departure
could prove healthy for the program as a whole.
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02/23/2007 01:59:57 AM |
