East Carolina guard opts for Pitt, a chance to win
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
When Mike Cook made his decision to transfer from East Carolina to Pitt, he wasn't much concerned with the bevy of guards coach Jamie Dixon is stockpiling. For Cook, it was all about being a part of a winning program.
Cook, who played for two losing teams at East Carolina in Conference USA, wanted to play for a winner, and the Panthers, who have played in four consecutive NCAA tournaments, fit that description.
"The number of guards they have was not much of a concern," Cook said yesterday from his home in Philadelphia. "I have a lot of confidence in my abilities. I've been through a lot of losing, and [Conference USA] was getting kind of weak. I know at Pitt, we'll win consistently and play in tournaments."
Cook, a 6-foot-4 guard, led East Carolina in scoring last season with 15 points per game. He also averaged four rebounds and three assists per game and shot 37 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from 3-point range.
Why would a player who led his team in scoring leave?
Cook said it was mainly the losing, but, when Bill Herrion was fired and Ricky Stokes was brought in to replace him, he knew it was time for a change.
Cook is a stocky player who can play all three guard positions. After sitting out this season under NCAA transfer rules, he will compete for playing time in a crowded backcourt with Antonio Graves, Ronald Ramon, Keith Benjamin, Levance Fields, Trevor Ferguson and Gilbert Brown, if all of those players remain with the team.
"I haven't really talked to coach about what my role is going to be," Cook said. "The biggest thing he talked to me about was getting other people involved. I'm not really sure what my role will be, but I know I'll be able to fit in."
Cook said he informed Dixon of his decision to come to Pitt a week or two ago but didn't make an official announcement until Monday afternoon. He does not know when he will arrive on campus, but he said he will enroll for the fall semester.
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(Ray Fittipaldo can be reached at rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1230.)
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