It’s hilarious how much Dan Dakich’s attitude toward Sharife Cooper and his presence on the Auburn basketball team has changed during the last few weeks.
After taking the stance that Cooper’s productivity would only decline from his debut against Alabama, the ESPN analyst has seemingly turned the page by calling the freshman point guard possibly the best player in the SEC and, per The Montgomery Advertiser, is now saying Bruce Pearl should consider lifting the self-imposed postseason ban on the Tigers this year.
“He’s been absolutely fantastic,” Dakich said of Cooper. “That dude is 1,000% dynamic. That dude gets easy shots.
“And don’t think for a second that Bruce Pearl opted out knowing or thinking that this kid was going to be that good,” Dakich added. “It’s one thing to be that good in practice, boss. Bruce Pearl, if I’m him, I got to re-think it.”
Yes, Cooper has absolutely been that good for the Tigers since joining the team on January 9 after missing the first 11 games of the season due to eligibility concerns. The Powder Springs, Ga. native is averaging 22.3 points, 8.7 assists and five rebounds a game.
In the victory over No. 12 Missouri on Tuesday night, Cooper was clutch from the free throw line, making 18-of-21 attempts with many coming in the final minutes and the game still in question.
“That’s my favorite thing to do is close the game,” Cooper said following the 88-82 victory. “Just making the right plays, making winning plays that affect the game tremendously – just by doing something little. That’s my favorite thing to do since I was a kid.”