Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Announce Addition of Bernard Cot?
7/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 14, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern University Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Carmody announced that Bernard Cot? (St. Lambert, Quebec/Champlain St.-Lambert) has accepted an offer of admission from the University and is joining the Wildcat program as a transfer from the University of Kentucky.
Cot? will begin classes at Northwestern this fall; he will sit out the 2004-05 season due to NCAA transfer rules, then be eligible to play as a junior in 2005-06.
"We are excited to have Bernard join the program," said Carmody. "He was a player we originally recruited when he was in high school -- we were impressed with him because he is a big, strong kid who has good range on his shot and can get up and down the floor well. He has a good sense of how to play the game. I think he is looking forward to working hard on his game while he sits out this season, and is excited at the chance to make a contribution when he becomes eligible."
Cot? is a 6-9, 230-pound forward. He appeared in 27 of Kentucky's 32 games last year as a sophomore, averaging nearly six minutes per contest and scoring 39 points. As a freshman, he played in 25 contests and averaged nearly five minutes of action per outing.
Cot? was an All-Canada player in high school, playing alongside Northwestern junior guard Mohamed Hachad at Champlain St.-Lambert in the Quebec province. The duo led the Cavaliers to a top-10 finish nationally as seniors; as juniors, they helped the team finish second in the province of Quebec.
Cot? is the third men's basketball player to transfer to Northwestern in the last year. Tim Doyle (St. John's) joined the program last season and is eligible to play as a sophomore this season, while Mike Thompson (Duke) also joined the team last year and will be eligible to play this season as a junior.
"I think it shows that people are noticing us," said Carmody of the sudden influx. "Our success has not been reflected so much in wins and losses yet, but people who know the game can see what we are doing here and want to be a part of it. That we are getting kids from storied programs like St. John's, Duke and Kentucky only adds to the optimism that surrounds our program right now."
BERNARD COT?
F * 6-9 * 230
St. Lambert, Quebec (Canada) * Champlain St.-Lambert
2003-04 (at Kentucky): Backup post player played in 27 games, averaging nearly six minutes ... Recorded five points in SEC Tournament final win over Florida ... Scored six points in 13 minutes at Vanderbilt ... Had five points in 18 minutes at Mississippi State ... Totaled a career-high 20 minutes and seven points in victory over Vanderbilt ... Played 17 minutes in win over North Carolina and recorded two assists, a pair of rebounds and a blocked shot ... Nailed a trey in win over Eastern Kentucky ... Played seven minutes vs. Tennessee Tech, scoring on a pair of free throws.
2002-03 (at Kentucky): Played in 25 games as a freshman ... Averaged 0.8 ppg and 0.9 rpg as a rookie ... Played a career-high 15 minutes in his Kentucky debut against Arizona State ... Had a career-best five points in the Senior Day win over Vanderbilt, playing nine minutes ... Had a season-best shooting performance came against Alcorn State, shooting 2-3 from the field, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds.
High School: Averaged 15.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg as a senior at Champlain St.-Lambert ... Was named All-Canadian and All-District in 2001 and 2002 ... Earned Athlete of the Year honors at his school in 2002 after leading the Cavaliers to an 11-5 record and a top-10 national finish...In 2001, Champlain St.-Lambert was ranked as high as fifth in the country and finished second in the province ... Led Champlain St.-Lambert to a 32-16 record in his three seasons ... High school coach was John Dangelas.
Personal: Born Bernard Cot? on July 12, 1982 in Toronto ... Parents are Guy Cot? and Louise Tiernan ... High school teammate of Northwestern junior guard Mohamed Hachad.
