Aaron Cook today said he has no plans to leave SIU.
FWIW, Mullins said that in his press conference today, not Cook directly. This is how it went:
Reporter: "With Cook slated to graduate in December is there any concern he can take his eligibility somewhere else next year?"
Mullins: "I don't think so. I mean I've been meeting with AC weekly here these last couple weeks just being on the same page with him. You know, we've brought that up. He hasn't thought about it, he likes it here, he's happy here. He just wants to be healthy and have a healthy Senior year."
Aaron Cook today said he has no plans to leave SIU.
FWIW, Mullins said that in his press conference today, not Cook directly. This is how it went:
Reporter: With Cook slated to graduate in December is there any concern he can take his elgibility somewhere else next year?
Mullins: I don't think so. I mean I've been meeting with AC weekly here these last couple weeks just being on the same page with him. You know, we've brought that up. He hasn't thought about it, he likes it here, he's happy here. He just wants to be healthy and have a healthy Senior year.
In other words - he's leaving.
Aaron Cook today said he has no plans to leave SIU.
FWIW, Mullins said that in his press conference today, not Cook directly. This is how it went:
Reporter: With Cook slated to graduate in December is there any concern he can take his elgibility somewhere else next year?
Mullins: I don't think so. I mean I've been meeting with AC weekly here these last couple weeks just being on the same page with him. You know, we've brought that up. He hasn't thought about it, he likes it here, he's happy here. He just wants to be healthy and have a healthy Senior year.
In other words - he's leaving.
Eh, I don't really take anything from it either way. More coach speak. But it wasn't as definitive as some Twitter account made it seem.
His entire injury situation and missed games leads me to believe he will test the transfer waters. That’s just my judgment on human nature.
I love how the assumption is that AC will leave with nothing to back it up. Did we forget he chose to come back to play for this staff for his senior year? I'm not going to pretend to know what he's going to do but I think it's super lazy just to assume he leaves.
Did we forget he chose to come back to play for this staff for his senior year?
You're absolutely right. He did. Nine months ago. People can change their mind. I don't have any info, but this argument is irrelevant. I agree with the sentiment of Cowboydawg though.
Hope AC returns. We will be fine if he doesn't.
Craving a McBride Special!
Unless there is a specific situation elsewhere that Cook is especially pumped up about, I don’t think he’d leave just to “move up.” He’s very well-liked on campus, has invested in the program and I think he’d really enjoy competing with next year’s SIU team. But, nothing would shock me either way.
Unless there is a specific situation elsewhere that Cook is especially pumped up about, I don’t think he’d leave just to “move up.” He’s very well-liked on campus, has invested in the program and I think he’d really enjoy competing with next year’s SIU team. But, nothing would shock me either way.
Posted this before hearing the Reis interview, but nothing about the interview really changes my perspective.
I love how in the interview Cook mentions in the interview that this coaching staff is running things like a high major program and specifically mentions my man crush, Ben Harvey, saying how good he and Domask will be next year (in fact Harvey had just swooshed a 30' shot during the interview).
Wherever Aaron is next year, I'll be rooting for him. If he comes back, the expectations next year will be through the roof. If he leaves, we'll still be in good shape going forward and it's more developmental minutes for the young guys. Next year would be a bonus we didn't expect getting Cook back anyways.
Next year will be Cooks last chance at any sort of post season. SIU just won’t be there yet next year.
He might make that calculation, but I don't think it's out of the realm that SIU next year with Cook, Domask, Harvey, Jones, Davis, Francois, Dembele and whatever pieces are added in the spring could compete for a postseason spot.
Also, I don't think he would leave SIU for another midmajor, and if postseason assurance is your benchmark, we'd be talking a good power conference team, not just a Northwestern or Ole Miss or whatever. And for those types of high-end programs, how many of them are going to guarantee Cook not only a roster spot, but a lead guard role like he'd have at Southern?
We shall see.
He could have transferred last year when Barry "stepped down" but he didn't. Not sure why he would do it next year after seeing the young talent he will have around him. With a good big man or 2 this team can compete for a Valley title next year!
Next year will be Cooks last chance at any sort of post season. SIU just won’t be there yet next year.
He might make that calculation, but I don't think it's out of the realm that SIU next year with Cook, Domask, Harvey, Jones, Davis, Francois, Dembele and whatever pieces are added in the spring could compete for a postseason spot.
Also, I don't think he would leave SIU for another midmajor, and if postseason assurance is your benchmark, we'd be talking a good power conference team, not just a Northwestern or Ole Miss or whatever. And for those types of high-end programs, how many of them are going to guarantee Cook not only a roster spot, but a lead guard role like he'd have at Southern?
We shall see.
I'm kind of answering my own question here, but oh well: no, PG is not a popular grad transfer option. No one wants to turn over that responsibility for a single year.
I'm glad he will be here, but there will definitely be some roster turmoil, which we probably shouldn't speculate about.
(Inflammatory political snark)
He could have transferred last year when Barry "stepped down" but he didn't. Not sure why he would do it next year after seeing the young talent he will have around him. With a good big man or 2 this team can compete for a Valley title next year!
I think not having to sit next year plays a huge role. Had he transferred after Barry left, he would have had to sit a year.
