Let's start with the one big positive to the Mike Cook story. He said he will graduate from Pitt in May with a degree in communications despite the demands of playing big-time college basketball and rehabilitating a terrible knee injury. This is one sharp kid who clearly didn't waste the wonderful educational opportunity given to him because of his athletic ability. They could take away most of his senior season, but they'll never be able to take away his precious diploma.

For that reason alone, the roar for Cook when he and his parents are honored on Senior Day before Pitt's final home game against DePaul this afternoon should be thunderous. How chilling those cheers from the Petersen Events Center crowd will be for him. It has been such a long time. Nearly three months. Three long, lonely, grueling months since he last was introduced to the Pitt fans and felt their respect and admiration come pouring down.

"It's going to be nice to hear those cheers one more time," Cook said, quietly.

Speaking of chilling, do you think Cook might be emotional when he returns to New York and Madison Square Garden this week to support his teammates at the Big East Conference tournament? He'll probably break out in a cold sweat in his street clothes, right there on the Pitt bench. It was at the Garden where his season -- and most likely his Pitt career -- ended in an instant because of that knee injury Dec. 20. One second, he was helping Pitt to beat powerhouse Duke. The next second, he was on the court, clutching his left knee, sickened by the horrible pop he had just heard, wondering if he'd ever be able to walk normally again let alone play basketball.

"It's almost like it's not fair," Cook said, though he has moved past the feeling-sorry-for-himself stage.

"This team had so much potential. We were No. 6 in the country when I got hurt and then Levance [Fields] got hurt. We might be in the top five now if we had stayed healthy. The top three, even."

It especially seems unfair because Cook worked so hard to prepare for his senior year. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon called Cook and his best pal, Fields, to his office after last season and told them they would be better players if they lost weight. Cook lost 10 pounds, Fields 20.

"Funny, the two people who worked the hardest both got hurt," Cook said.

No, he didn't laugh, in case you're wondering.

It's impossible to overestimate the impact of Cook's loss on a Pitt team that has gone 10-9 without him and no longer is ranked even if it appears headed to the NCAA tournament for a seventh consecutive year. He and Fields, who missed almost seven weeks with a broken foot before rejoining the lineup late last month, were the only two returning starters from last season. Pitt hasn't just missed Cook's leadership. Dixon has had to give more minutes to players who aren't ready for them. He hasn't been able to practice the team as hard or as long as he would like because of his shorter bench.

"It's hard for me to watch the guys play," Cook said. "It's hard for me to see their faces after losses and think that maybe I could have helped them win when things got hectic.

"I think I would be another scoring option and a guy who could create shots for my teammates. Maybe I could help Ron [Ramon] a little. He's struggling right now. I always used to tell him, 'Space it out when I drive, and I'll get you the ball for an open shot.' Maybe I could get him a few more open looks."

Cook, who started all 48 games during his season-plus at Pitt, was averaging 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds when his knee was dislocated. He knows those numbers might not sound like much, but he said, "I have a lot of game. People here didn't see it because I sacrificed so much for the team." Said Dixon, agreeing: "He could have been the leading scorer if he had stayed at East Carolina or if he had gone somewhere else. But he came to Pitt because he wanted to be a part of a winning program."

Dixon said Pitt will apply to the NCAA for another season for Cook, but Cook acknowledged that's a long shot because it would involve a sixth collegiate season. He had to sit out the 2005-06 season after transferring from East Carolina after a coaching change there.

Regardless, Cook plans on playing basketball somewhere next season. He's putting in the same hard work in his rehab that he did to lose that weight in the summer. "The big thing he has going for him is he's diligent," said Pitt trainer Tony Salesi, who predicted Cook should be able to start jogging in April and playing again by September.

Said Cook: "I'm sure I'll have some options overseas."

Of course, Cook won't leave Pitt with just lifelong friendships and tremendous memories. He'll take something very valuable with him, much to the delight of his proud family.

"It never hurts," Cook said, "to have a degree."