Cooke makes early impact with Dayton

By PAUL GOTHAM

Charles Cooke sat by and watched his University of Dayton Flyer teammates advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Forced to spend a year in residency per transfer requirements, he could have been of use for a team limited to just seven scholarship athletes by season’s end.

Apparently, the time off did him well.

Scoring 14.7 points per game, Cooke paces Dayton which takes on the North Florida Ospreys, Saturday.

“I’m happy with the way he’s started,” Dayton coach Archie Miller prior to last Advocare Invitational. “He brings an intensity level that we like.”

Cooke has hit 26 of 58 (44.8 percent) from the floor including 11 of 25 from behind the arc. At 6-5 the junior guard has become a primary option of the UD offense particularly on baseline inbound plays where he cuts to the ball side corner for a catch-and-shoot threat.

“Usually, early on with those transfer guys the thing you want to see is not only that they fit in, but that they buy in to what we’re doing,” Miller added. “I think Charles really has done that.”

Cooke proved valuable in late game situations at the HP Field House last week. His catch and drive for a layup stopped a mini 5-0 Monmouth run in the second half of the Flyers 73-70 victory. The previous night, his three-pointer from the corner halted a 16-2 Iowa run and helped the Flyers to an 82-77 win over the Hawkeyes.

“Just trying to stay aggressive,” Cooke said. “Just looking for my opportunities.”

Cooke grabs six rebounds per game and hands out 1.3 assists.

“He’s a good player,” Miller commented. “He has a chance to get better. Right now a lot of his mistakes and some of the things we’re watching and talking to him about are just inexperience with the other guys.”

A 2 pm tip time is scheduled. The Ospreys are familiar with UD Arena. They lost to Robert Morris 81-77 in last season’s First Four. North Florida is 6-3 on the season including a win over Illinois in their opener.