By PAUL GOTHAM
DAYTON, OH — Even before the season started, Archie Miller knew the burden to score would lean a little more on the shoulders of Charles Cooke. The senior guard who led the Dayton Flyers a year ago netting 15.6 a game would need to do that and more without the likes of Dyshawn Pierre (12.6 ppg) in the lineup.
A preseason injury preventing Kendall Pollard from playing in this campaign’s first three games, and the loss of Josh Cunningham to injury in Tuesday’s win, and that weight has shifted a little more squarely to the 6-foot-5 guard.
“Charles understands he’s going to be the focal point of every team’s defense,” Miller said after Saturday’s 61-57 loss to Saint Mary’s. “He’s not getting frustrated when other teams try to take him out with traps and deny him things.”
Cooke responded Saturday tallying nine of his game-high 19 in the final 6:21 as the Flyers cut a 20-point deficit to two.
“He’s really aggressive right now,” Miller noted. “I love it. He looks to me like a guy that’s well on his way to having a great season if he just stays aggressive like he’s doing.”
Cooke drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key before converting six straight free throws to cut the deficit to single digits at 58-50 to 2:20 remaining.
“He knows what we need him to be,” Miller added. “He’s shooting a lot of free throws right now. He’s not settling for jump shots at all. He’s really, really getting the ball in straight lines to the baskets which is good to see.”
Cooke eventually made it a two-point game at 59-57 with 25.7 seconds remaining when he used a spin move in the lane to get free for another bucket.
“He’s not settling which is a great sign from him.”
Cooke is averaging 23 points and seven rebounds through three games.
Cunningham was injured in Tuesday’s 77-72 win over Alabama. The redshirt sophomore landed awkwardly on a dunk with three seconds remaining. He had surgery on Friday to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle.
“Josh is basically a 15-a-game, 16-a-game point scorer if he plays over 20-25 minutes,” Miller stated. “He’s by far and away our most physical presence under the basket in terms of offensive rebounding, defending rebounding and throwing the ball inside.”
“Josh is done. If Josh is not done for the season, he’ll make a miraculous run in February, and maybe he’s good. We don’t plan on having Josh.”
Dayton plays Nebraska Thanksgiving night in the first round of the Wooden Legacy tournament. An 8:30 pm tip time is scheduled.
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