SPORTS

UWGB lands former Seymour star Sandy Cohen

Scott Venci
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Sandy Cohen III spins a ball during Marquette media day before the 2016-'17 season.

GREEN BAY - Sandy Cohen is coming back home.

The former Seymour boys basketball standout has decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay after spending two years and the first four games of this season at Marquette.

The 6-foot-6 guard asked for and was granted his release by Marquette last month. He had received interest from other schools but decided on UWGB after observing practice and watching the Phoenix play against Central Michigan at the Resch Center on Nov. 26.

UWGB coach Linc Darner is not allowed to comment because of NCAA transfer rules, but it was clear Cohen was impressed with the program.

“I wanted to see how the practices go and stuff like that and just to see how they are running things,” said Cohen, who will start attending classes at UWGB next semester. “It was very interesting to see, and I liked what I saw.

“I really love the style with which GB plays. I feel like a player like me with my ability to pass and to shoot, I feel like I will flourish in his offense.”

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It remains to be seen how long the Phoenix will have Cohen. He plans to apply for a waiver with the NCAA that would allow him to play for 1½ seasons, meaning he would sit out the first semester next year and then be available for the second semester and all of the following season.

If the NCAA doesn’t grant the request, Cohen will sit out next season so he can play the entire 2018-19 campaign.

He appeared sparingly in three games with the Golden Eagles this season, going 0-for-4 from the field.

“I’ve only played 19 minutes this year, that’s not even half of one game,” Cohen said. “That really sucks if that counts as a full year of eligibility, but I think by the NCAA terms, it does count as a full year.

“But we are going to try everything in my power to try and get that back.”

Cohen started 15 games for the Golden Eagles as a sophomore and appeared in 32, averaging 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game. He started seven games and played in 31 as a freshman when he averaged 3.8 points and 1.6 rebounds.

He committed during former Marquette coach Buzz Williams’ final season, picking the school over others that included Minnesota and Gonzaga. Former UWGB coach Brian Wardle also had offered him.

But when Williams left for Virginia Tech and Marquette hired Steve Wojciechowski in 2014, Cohen had to reconsider his options.

Marquette remained his dream school, and his decision was sealed when Wojciechowski drove to Seymour coach Jon Murphy's house to meet with Cohen shortly after arriving in Milwaukee.

The situation with Darner and UWGB now appears to be a better fit.

“I think he was looking for a fresh start,” Murphy said. “There are a lot of kids playing at places that if you could go somewhere else, you might get more time on the floor. He wants to be playing instead of watching his last two years.

“He felt like GB was a really good fit. Coach Darner is kind of up-tempo and we like the way they play. Everybody plays. Everybody shoots the ball.

“You saw last year with (Jordan) Fouse all of a sudden he’s bringing the ball up the court and shooting 3s and playing the game. Sandy kind of wants to be allowed to just play. Not be told you have to go guard a four and go set screens. He just wants to play, and I feel he felt this was the time to do it.”

Although it didn’t work out in Milwaukee, Cohen has no regrets about his time spent there.

“You know, I’m glad I went to Marquette,” he said. “I feel like everything happens for a reason. I feel like my two years that I’ve been here I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned a lot from the coaches.

“I feel like this experience made me stronger and is just going to motivate me. I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made. I would still go the same route.”