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LOCATION: Baltimore, MD
CONFERENCE: Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC)
LAST SEASON: 15-14 (.517)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 14-4 (1st)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 3/2
NICKNAME: Eagles
COLORS: Royal Blue & Gold
HOMECOURT: Coppin Center (3,000)
COACH: Ron "Fang" Mitchell (Edison State '84)
record at school 241-142 (13 years)
career record 468-187 (21 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Derek Brown (Coppin State)
Jimmy DuBose (New York Tech '82)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 21-19-22-21-15
RPI (last 5 years) 132-159-127-107-181
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference quarterfinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Could the MEAC finally be catching up to Coppin State? In some ways it was business as usual in the MEAC last year with Coppin State sharing the regular-season title with South Carolina State. It was Coppin State's ninth regular-season title in the last 10 years as the Eagles finished with a 14-4 league record. Unfortunately, it was also business as usual in the conference tournament as the Eagles were shocked by Florida A&M. For all the success coach Fang Mitchell's club has had in the MEAC over the years, it has often been snake bit, pardon the pun, in the MEAC tournament. Last year was another example, as Florida A&M downed the Eagles, 80-69, in the quarterfinals during their stunning championship run. It's been three seasons now since Coppin State went to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed and shocked the nation with an upset of South Carolina and a near-upset of Texas. The Eagles' four losses were their most in the league in seven seasons, and there were a lot of close games last year for Fang's Gang. Coppin went to overtime in five conference games, going 3-2. There were home losses to Morgan State and South Carolina State, narrow escapes against cellar-dwellers Howard and North Carolina A&T. And things could get even tougher this year. Gone is 6-5 forward Fred Warrick (20.9 ppg), the team's leading scorer. He was a first team all-conference player. The Eagles graduated three of their top four scorers from a year ago. Coppin State will lack size in the frontcourt this year as Mitchell plans to "rebound by committee."
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B- BENCH/DEPTH C-
FRONTCOURT C- INTANGIBLES B
If this was any other MEAC program, you would pencil a team this thin in height and lacking proven scorers to the bottom of the conference. But Coppin State is no ordinary MEAC program. Coach Fang Mitchell's program has been the dominant team in the conference for the last 10 years. Nine regular-season championships in 10 years are an indicator that the Eagles will be ready to play this season and be one of the teams to beat. But the days of Coppin State going undefeated in league play or losing just once appears to be over. Parity is here in the MEAC, and the Eagles are just one of a number of teams that could win the league this season. Though there are questions about Coppin State's inside game, there is some potential for answers with players such as Pointer and Brown. Both are transfers who know what a higher level of basketball is all about. We think those two will develop this year and take the Eagles to a second-place finish in the conference. In the MEAC tournament, maybe Coppin will suprise some people as an underdog this time around, instead of being surprised. |
Mitchell knows it could be a tough year for the Eagles. "We might be looking up at a lot of teams in the MEAC rather than being chased," said Mitchell, entering his 14th year at Coppin State. "There's parity, but I see some teams, like Hampton and Norfolk State, moving up. South Carolina State returns most of its team, so they'll be tough." But be wary of the Eagles and their veteran coach. Coppin State has been in this situation before. In 1992-93, the Eagles were coming off a mediocre 15-13 season and didn't seem to have much coming back. They were a preseason pick to finish in seventh place, then went 16-0 in the league, won the tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament. Mitchell's slogan is "Just Get it Done" and that tells you he isn't going to accept his program suddenly slipping into the MEAC's second division because of its lack of height. "I think we'll be an intelligent team, and we should be very good on defense," Mitchell said. "We'll probably play more man-to-man this year. We should be quicker, which is what you have to have when you lack size. "Offensively, we'll have to develop an inside game to get some balance because most of our returning offense is on the perimeter. Our lack of size is going to hurt us. I can't tell you right now where our rebounding is going to come from. Last year, we rebounded by committee, and we may have to do that again this year. I can see this as our Achilles' heel." The backcourt will be the Eagles' strength. They return both of their starters: 5-10 senior guard Jorge Cajigas (13.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and 6-2 sophomore Rasheem Sims (5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 101 assists). Sims can play either the point or the shooting guard. Cajigas and Sims alternated between the two guard positions all last season. Cajigas is a fiery player who is the heart and soul of the Coppin squad. "If the other players follow the fire and desire he has, we will be competitive," Mitchell said. "I expect a big year from him. He appreciates the opportunity just to be here. He brings the type of attitude we'll need to be successful." Sims enjoyed a solid rookie year and earned first-team MEAC all-rookie honors. "I think Rasheem had a tremendous year, although some might not see that looking at his point totals," Mitchell said. "He played well in big games and his shooting improved over the course of the season. . . . Rasheem plays hard at all times and has a tremendous desire to win. He's a smart player, and he knows what his role is." Mitchell expects two newcomers to make an impact in the backcourt. They are 6-1 sophomore Terrell Fraser, a mid-season transfer from Jackson State, and 6-1 sophomore Khari McKie, who was a teammate of Sims at prep power Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia. Fraser is a versatile athlete who went to Jackson State to play football before deciding to transfer to Coppin State. "Terrell is a good athlete, and he plays hard on defense and has a solid jumper," Mitchell said. "He got to practice with us in the second half of last season, so I think he's looking forward to playing. "Khari is quick and a tough defender and understands the game." Curtis Allen, a 6-1 freshman, is the only rookie on this year's team. Allen played at Bishop Borgess High School in Southfield, Mich., and averaged 12 points and seven assists. He was a summer signee. Mark Davis-McCray (0.5 ppg, 0.0 rpg) is a 6-1 sophomore and a walk-on who will provide depth in the backcourt. While the backcourt appears to be one of the MEAC's best, it is the frontcourt that endangers the Eagles' reign as the MEAC bully. Only three players on the roster stand taller than 6-6. There is potential, but the frontcourt is unproven in a league that continues to grow in the frontcourt. The Eagles won't be bullying too many people inside this year. Kofi Pointer (5.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), a 6-8 senior forward/center, is Coppin State's best returning frontcourt player. His modest numbers are also the best of any returning player. A broken nose slowed Pointer up early last season, but Mitchell expects more from the Providence transfer this year. "It will be important for (Pointer) to contribute to the level we expected when he came here," Mitchell said. "With him coming in late and then suffering a broken nose, he never got in gear last year." Senior Tyran Watkins, a 6-8 center, is the last holdover to the glory days of the 1997 NCAA Tournament team. Watkins (3.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 32 blocked shots) has improved during his career, and Mitchell is just hoping for the best from his only fourth-year senior. "Although he's not a great talent, he plays hard and gives us everything he has," Mitchell said. "If he can elevate his performance on the boards and continue to block shots, he'll be in the lineup." Coppin has had a lot of luck with transfers over the years, and it should have continued success with 6-6 junior forward Joe Brown. Brown comes to Coppin State from Hofstra, where he averaged 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds two seasons ago. Mitchell believes the athletic Brown could help shoulder some of the scoring load this season. "Joe is capable of being an explosive player," Mitchell said. "He's the best athlete on the team and has a lot of talent." Brown is a Philadelphia native who was a former Public League scoring champion and was a highly sought recruit coming out of high school (Franklin Learning Center). He spent a year at Maine Central Institute before signing with Hofstra and had two solid seasons. Brown is primarily a small forward, but will see time at the power forward. Terrance Lee (1.1 ppg, 0.4 rpg), a 6-4 sophomore, was hoping to help the Eagles last year at the small-forward spot. Instead it was a year of adjustment for the St. Louis native, but Mitchell thinks that Lee can contribute this season. "Last year was a learning experience for Terrance," Mitchell said. "He will definitely help us this year because he's a tremendous shooter." Another transfer, 6-6 senior Greg Hammond (3.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg), could also help in the frontcourt. Hammond played at Boston University for a year before transferring to Coppin and becoming eligible two seasons ago. He started in two games a year ago and averaged 9.3 points against the three nationally-ranked opponents Iowa, Syracuse and New Mexico Coppin State faced. Hammond is capable of playing both forward positions. "Although (Hammond) hasn't had a great deal of playing time the last two years, I think he'll stand up to the challenge," Mitchell said. "He can shoot and take it to the hole." Junior Jason Iacona, 7-1 but just 200 pounds, is the only seven-footer in school history, but hasn't contributed much. Iacona (0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg) came to Coppin State when his father was so impressed with the Eagles in the 1997 NCAA tournament that he called the school and was stunned when Mitchell answered the athletic department phone. He only played in four games last year, but should play more this season. Larry Tucker, 6-4 sophomore forward, is a local product from perennial prep power Dunbar and will give the Eagles depth at either forward slot. The schedule is brutal as usual for the Eagles. Mitchell, who also serves as Coppin's athletic director, has to balance the department's budget and allows his program to do just that. Trips to defending national champion Connecticut, St. John's, Purdue, Auburn and Marquette should help the cross country and track teams survive this year, but they will not help the basketball team's won-loss record. Coppin will have a few more home games as the Eagles will host the Battle of Baltimore Classic. Coppin State will battle Maryland-Baltimore County to open the season on Nov. 19 before playing Loyola or Towson the next day.
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