By Kyle Zamiara
Sports Editor
Nearly five years ago, redshirt senior Da’Quan Cook came to St.Bonaventure under then-first-year head coach Mark Schmidt. Since his arrival, the Bonnies have improved their conference record each year, going from 2-14 overall in 2007-08 to 10-6 this year. The Elizabeth, N.J. native said he and his teammates are still in shock about their Atlantic 10 Championship season and trip to the Big Dance.
“It’s been very emotional for all of us because we never saw it coming,” Cook said “We just grinded the rest of the season out.”
The Bonnies finished their season in the NCAA Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., where they lost to No. 3 seed Florida State, 66-63, March 16.
The Brown and White ended their regular season March 3 at La Salle with a 71-61 loss that slotted them into the fourth seed in the A-10 tournament, where they went on to beat Saint Joseph’s, Massachusetts and eventually Xavier for the championship.
Cook said a lot of hard work put them in the right place at the right time.
“After the La Salle game, we just played so well,” Cook said. “That run we made; we still don’t know how we did it, but hard work pays off and that shows you right there.”
Bonnies won seven of eight before the Florida State game.
The 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward had career highs this year in both points (7.6) and rebounds (4.6) per game. Cook said the best word to describe his time at St. Bonaventure would be “family.”
“I’m going to miss the fan base here and the coaches a lot because of the motivation they gave to us and most of all my teammates,” Cook said. “Without those guys, you won’t ever have the team we had in college.”
Cook didn’t tally any double-doubles this season, but scored in double digits nine times this season, including back-to-back games against Fordham and Rhode Island where he had 18 each.
Cook said he currently doesn’t have plans for the future.
“Right now, I’m just working and whatever comes my way I’ll be prepared for it,” he said.
With only three seniors leaving the Bonnies this year, including Cook, senior forward Andrew Nicholson and graduate student Zach Moore, Cook said the Bonnies should have success again in the coming seasons if they put the effort in.
“No matter how hard times get or how tough it gets, you never know
what can come in the near future,” Cook said. “You need to work hard
every day like it’s your last.”
zamiarkj10@bonaventure.edu
