Two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship banners hang above the trophy case at the Coppin Center.
It?s the one that?s missing ? huge in its absence for the women?s basketball team ? that draws the most attention. Thanks to a crushing, 69-67 overtime loss to Morgan State in the semifinals of the conference tournament last season, the banner the Eagles were counting onnow belongs to tourney champion Delaware State.
“That?s been our motivation [for this season],” Eagles senior guard Rashida Suber said.
The loss ? a “shock” according to Suber ? also ended Coppin?s 49-game MEAC winning streak.
Suber enters the season as the conference?s Preseason Player of the Year after leading the Eagles to their first-ever Division I postseason win ? a 67-52 victory over Saint Joseph?s.
But it came in the NIT, not the NCAA Tournament, in which the Eagles (25-8 last season) had played in Suber?s first two years.
“When you?re a senior you want to leave on a happy note,” Coppin State coach Derek Brown said. “The players who left last year, it wasn?t on a happy note. They wanted that championship.”
This year?s team is younger, with three freshmen expected to see action.
“They?re even fresher than freshmen,” Brown said with a smile. “They?re talented, but they have a lot to learn.”
And this year?s team will face tougher competition, according to Brown, who notes that the MEAC is loaded with talent. Nine of last year?s 10 All-Conference players are returning.
“We?ll just try to win some games,” he said. “The conference is much better than it was last year.”
Still, in the coaches? preseason poll, Coppin was picked to finish first, edging Delaware State with 12-of-22 first-place votes.
A big reason for that is Suber. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 18.9 points per game ? fifth best in Coppin history ? while setting team records for points (623) and three-pointers (105).
Quiet and reserved, Suber has become a vocal leader for the younger players.
“She has put this team on her shoulders,” Brown said. “Off the court, on the court, she?s done everything we?ve ask of her as a captain.”
EAGLES AT A GLANCE
» Coach: Derek Brown(Eighth Season, 134-94)
» Last Year: 25-8 overall, 18-0 MEAC; lost to Morgan State, 69-67, in overtime, in the semifinals of the conference tournament; lost to South Florida, 66-49, in the second round of the NIT.
» Returning players: SG Rashida Suber, Sr., 5-8, 18.9 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 2.2 apg.; PG Shalamar Oakley, Sr., 5-6, 12.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 3.3 apg.; C Tanezia Harden, Jr., 6-3, 8.1 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 0.2 apg.; SF Danielle Anders, Jr., 5-11, 4.3 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 0.1 apg.; C Whitney Cunningham, Jr., 6-3, 3.7 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 0.3 apg.; PF Jennifer Martin, Jr., 6-0, 2.2 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 0.2 apg., PG Sesalie Johnson, So., 5-6, 1.7 ppg., 0.8 rpg., 0.8 apg., PF Chanelle Downing, So., 5-11, 1.6 ppg., 0.9 rpg., 0.1 apg.; PF Lakeytah Irving, So., 5-11, 0.2 ppg., 0.6 rpg., 0.7 apg.
» Top Newcomer: Ashley Thompson. The 5-foot-8 freshman shooting guard is expected to be a key reserve in a backcourt led by Suber and Oakley.
» Big Game: Nov. 14 vs. UMBC. The Eagles face the defending America East tournament champion Retrievers in a game between schools separated by just a few miles. Two days after playing UMBC, the Eagles open the Preseason NIT at defending ACC champion North Carolina, which went 34-4 last season.
» Key to the Season: Rebounding. The Eagles lost some key interior players, including starters Tamieka Noel and Talia Sutton, who combined to average 14.6 rebounds per game.
» Tickets: Free.
» Key Number: 327. Steals by Coppin State last year. Opponents had just 247.
