Cooper’s star would shine brighter if he knew when to shoot

Years from now, future Ohio University students and basketball fans could very well view D.J. Cooper one of the best players from a historically strong Ohio program. The Chicago native has invigorated the Convo since bursting on the Mid American Conference scene as a freshman. He drops dimes like he's at an arcade and has already set the record for assists in a season. By the end of this season, he could be Ohio's all-time leader in steals. On top of that, Cooper has led the team in scoring the past two seasons.

But as impressive as that last statistic is, it also may be holding back the Bobcats.

Before, Wednesday evening's home victory over Buffalo, Cooper was averaging 14.1 points per game this season but he had not been scoring efficiently. He was shooting 36.3 percent from the field, second lowest on the team, and 27.2 percent from beyond the three-point line, the lowest percentage on the team.

That inefficiency is something that the Bobcats have struggled with in their past two games, both losses in which the team shot less than 39 percent.

"Whether it's [Cooper] or other guys getting the shot, making sure it's a quality shot," said coach John Groce after practice on Tuesday.

Those quality shots have eluded Cooper at times this season. Instead of getting his shots in the flow of the game, Cooper's competitive drive can overshadow good decision-making at important points in a game.

"I think he tries to make a play because he wants to win so badly," Groce said.

With a Mary Poppins-like bag of skills, the immensely talented Cooper is too good to be taking poor shots. The Bobcats are at their peak offensively when Cooper is distributing the ball, grabbing rebounds, and shooting effectively and efficiently.

Groce said that an ideal box score for Cooper would show the point guard attempting 10-12 shots, shooting 40 percent or better from the field, and shooting at least 33 percent from beyond the arc.

With those numbers in mind, consider the following statistics:

In Ohio's 12 wins this season before the Buffalo game, Cooper was averaging 11.58 shots per game. In the team's three losses, he was averaging 17 shots per game.

In the wins, Cooper was shooting 39.6 percent from the field. Take out one cold night against Morgan State, and that number moved up to just under 42 percent. In losses, his field goal percentage had dropped to 27.5 percent.

The correlation between the rough numbers that Groce said would be ideal continues to three-point range. In wins before Wednesday, Cooper was shooting 32.7 percent, just under the desired rate. In losses, his three-point percentage was 26.7 percent.

To say that Cooper's offensive output is the sole reason for wins and losses is preposterous. But the numbers suggest that if Cooper plays efficiently and manages to take open shots instead of forcing the issue when others are not knocking down shots, the team benefits considerably.

"He's got to trust the system and his teammates more," said Groce. "He understands that, and I fully expect him to get better in that area."

Groce also said that with three years of experience already, Cooper does have more freedom in running the offense and making those key decisions.

Cooper's game is like a cross between former North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton and former Illinois point guard Dee Brown.

Brown was a quick guard and part of a three-headed backcourt monster that included current NBA players Luther Head and Deron Williams. While very talented, Brown didn't have Cooper's passing acumen but did have his penchant for hoisting the occasional ill-advised shot and taking his team out of games.

Felton, meanwhile, spearheaded a fast-paced UNC attack. Like Cooper, Felton was top 20 in the nation in assists per game, averaging four rebounds per game and just under 13 points per game. But what separated Felton in his junior season was an ability to take shots only when necessary.

Yes, the level of play is different. The Bobcats probably are not going to win the NCAA Championship this year, like the Tar Heels did in 2005, beating Brown and the Illini. The supporting cast for this year's squad does not quite match up to that of one of the greatest teams of all time.

The point guard, however, does. Cooper may be the most talented player in the conference. He contributes in so many ways that he doesn't have to take a bunch of shots to win games.

The sooner he understands that, the better for Ohio.

Next up for the Bobcats is a trip to Akron on Saturday. Wednesday night's home game against Buffalo transpired after The Athens NEWS' print deadline. The ’Cats (13-3, 1-1 in the MAC) beat Buffalo 60-52. Cooper had seven rebounds and five assists, while scoring 15 points.