Depth starting to show for Coppin State
The newcomer of the trio, Tarke continued the solid all-around play that Coppin fans have come to expect and opponents have come to fear. The 22-year-old redshirt senior put up 13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal on Sunday. That came on the heels of a 12 point, eight-rebound, three assists, two blocks and two steal game on Saturday night.
Tarke has been a difference-maker all season for Coppin State. He’s averaging 15.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.1 steals– among the leaders in Division I basketball. The UTEP transfer earned praise from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in the opener and has shown why all season.
Then there’s Thomas. The Philadelphia product made an immediate impact last year (his first season with Coppin State) leading the team in scoring at better than 13.3 points per game. He was inconsistent to start the season, but if teams forget about him to focus on Clayton or Tarke, he can make them pay.
While that trio is dangerous, they have several other teammates that can step up and have a big night if one or more of them are off.
Big man Yuat Alok had 18 points and eight rebounds in the win over Norfolk State on Saturday. Redshirt freshman Kenan Sarvan has been in double-figures five times. And then there is Nendah Tarke, Anthony’s little brother, who has won MEAC Rookie of the Week several times through late January.
There’s still more than a month to go in the regular season, so there is a lot of basketball to be played. But the more you watch this Coppin State team, the more you realize they are talented, deep and tough. And history has shown that when those three things line up for Coppin State, the MEAC better beware.