COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wooster's Cooper having a career year
Senior who graduated from South returns to Springfield for another NCAC battle with Wittenberg on Saturday.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Wooster's James Cooper isn't a thorn in Wittenberg's side — he's a dagger. Daggers tend to leave more lasting marks.
In eight games against the Tigers during the last three seasons, the South graduate has put his stamp on the rivalry like few other players.
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South graduate James Cooper (left) is averaging a career-high 20.5 points per game this season for Wooster. He'll be the third-leading scorer in school history if he can score seven points Saturday in an NCAC showdown at Wittenberg. Wooster University file photo
Get latest headlines via RSS feedsCooper, a 6-foot senior guard, has scored more than 20 points four of the last five times the teams have played, and he hit a 28-foot 3-pointer with four seconds left to give the Scots a victory over Wittenberg on Dec. 10, 2005.
That still might be the biggest shot of Cooper's career, but there's plenty of competition for the honor.
After all, those are just three of the 1,778 points Cooper has scored in his career.
"He's definitely been one of the most outstanding players to ever play at the College of Wooster," Scots coach Steve Moore said.
Cooper will play what could be his final game in his hometown of Springfield on Saturday. Wooster and Wittenberg (both 5-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference) meet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pam Evans Smith Arena.
Cooper, the oldest of seven children, will have his own personal cheering section as usual, but he doesn't need that to tell him this game is huge.
"It's a big rivalry game. It's always a big crowd," Cooper said. "Anything can happen in the Wittenberg-Wooster game."
Stopping Cooper will be a top priority for Wittenberg, but it won't be easy.
Cooper is having a career year, and that's saying something. He was the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore and the leading scorer for Wooster's Final Four team a year ago.
This year, Cooper is averaging a career-best 20.5 points per game, shooting a career-best 51.5 percent from behind the 3-point arc and 54.4 percent from the field.
"My main goal is to stay consistent, don't take bad shots," Cooper said. "I like to play team ball and play hard and stay consistent. ... I've got to give credit to my team. They're finding me when I'm open."
Cooper will finish his career with his name all over the Wooster record books. He's seven points from moving into third place in career scoring, and he needs 26 3-pointers to become Wooster's career leader in made 3-pointers.
Wooster takes a 10-game winning streak into Saturday's game. The last loss was to Cedarville on Dec. 1.
Wooster, which lost 67-60 to Amherst in the national semifinals a season ago, is ranked 20th in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.
"Our main goal is to win the national championship, but you have to get there first," Cooper said. "I worked hard in the offseason to get back to Salem (Va., the site of the Final Four). We've had a whole year to think about the loss to Amherst. I'm sure it's in the back of everybody's mind. We want to get back."
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.
