A map of the United States showing the completed destinations by the Coppin State men?s basketball team over the years would be littered with thumb tacks.
The upcoming season will be no different, as the Eagles open against host Hawaii. This is the team?s third trip to the Pacific island chain. The Eagles? last trip to Hawaii was during the 1998-99 season.
Head coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell, entering his 21st year with the program, has developed a reputation for putting his squad on the road to open the non-conference season.
“I?m just one game away from completing it,” said Mitchell of his team?s schedule. “We have a home game in November. That?s a rarity.”
Coppin State hosts Winston-Salem Nov. 21 at the Coppin Center.
“It?s our normal schedule, but at least this year I snuck in a home game,” Mitchell said, with a laugh.
This season the Eagles visit Tennessee and Kansas State. They also travel to Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State and Connecticut and make a visit to the Iowa Hawkeyes? tournament in December.
“Our basketball players really enjoy going out with these challenges, playing these teams. We?re starting to be known for that,” Mitchell said. “We?ll play anyone at any place, anytime.”
Outside of wrapping up the Eagles? schedule, Mitchell just finished his recruiting class.
“I focused on trying to bring a little more size,” said Mitchell, noting that his tallest player last season was 6-feet-7. “We focused on that and people who could score for us.”
According to the Eagles? sports information department, the class includes Ruben Britt (Voorhees, N.J.), Ethan Kennedy (Albuquerque, N.M.) and junior-college transfer Julian Conyers (Miliptas, Calif.).
Mitchell loses no seniors from his roster, but the Eagles, 12-18 last season, will be without Darryl Proctor, the team?s top rebounder and second-leading scorer, who has transferred to UMBC.
“That?s a big hole to fill,” Mitchell said. “We?re going to have to lean on some of these new guys, as well as some of the guys from last year.”
The Eagles return MEAC Rookie of the Year Tywain McKee, a 6-2 guard whose 15.5 points per game led the team.
“He?s really going to have to be the team leader, the one we?ll have to lean on more,” Mitchell said.
MITCHELL?S MERRY TRAVELERS
Coppin State?s incoming players: 6-foot-2 guard Ruben Britt (Voorhees, N.J.), 6-7 forward Ethan Kennedy (Albuquerque, N.M.) and junior college transfer 6-6 forward Julian Conyers (Miliptas, Calif.) join Coppin?s program.
Did you know? Under Mitchell, the Eagles have visited 36 states and Puerto Rico. The program will make its first stop in Tennessee this season … Proctor and reserve guard Chuckie Ivey, each transferring, are the only players to depart ? Aside from McKee, Mitchell also tabbed three-point marksman Talmadge Bell, 5-foot-9 guard Darryl Roberts and 6-foot-7 forward Robert Pressey as key players on whom the Eagles will lean in 2006-2007.
