Michael Grant's plan to reshape Coppin State's offensive philosophy is coming to fruition.
A proponent of instant offense, Grant has watched the Eagles (1-9) hoist 295 shots from beyond the 3-point line, which ranks as the third-most attempts in Division I. While their 32.2 success rate leaves a lot to be desired, they are tied with Princeton for the 10th highest total of 3-pointers made, with 95.
At this rate, Coppin State is on pace to finish the season with 855 3-point attempts, which would exceed the 791 tries that the 2011-12 squad launched in 30 games – the most in the past 13 years.
And that works for Grant, the team's first-year coach.
"I'm fine with it because that's what they're giving us," he said Wednesday. "We don't have a great inside game right now. A lot of teams are taking away our inside and forcing us to really shoot the ball from the outside. I've told these guys before that if you get open opportunities, take it because we spread the ball so much that you have to make shots.
"I think the rotation that we have right now has some pretty good guys that can knock down those shots, and if they get those opportunities to take those open shots, they have to knock them down. If teams are going to give them to us, we have to take them. I think once our inside game gets a little better, that will open up more drive opportunities. … This is the system I wanted to put in, this is the way I wanted them to play. Now that they're getting these opportunities, they're going to take them, and hopefully, they'll become confident enough to knock them down on a consistent basis."
The offense is seeking a consistent post player. Junior center Lawrence Fejokwu, 6 feet 9 and 260 pounds, has made eight starts, but is averaging just 1.5 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Jermiyjah Batts has started twice, but the 6-8, 240-pound senior has registered just 2.6 points and 1.2 rebounds. And 6-8, 240-pound senior Brandon St. Louis is averaging 0.9 points and 1.9 rebounds.
"It's the hand we've been dealt," Grant said. "We have to try to get it done by committee right now. Lawrence Fejokwu has been starting off and then Jerimyjah Batts has been coming off the bench, and then St. Louis has been coming in. So they have to get it done by committee.
"Within that spot, we just keep rotating guys in and hopefully, we can get something out of one of them. Right now, I don't think any one of them is averaging more than four points. So we have to get more consistent in there. Even if it's getting in there and they're able to pass the ball out to guys we cutting through, we have to get something consistent in the low post for us to be able to open up the outside game a little more."