The 3-point shooting will continue. The question is, will it get better?

Miami University’s men’s basketball team is playing a lot of guards in John Cooper’s first year at the helm. Size and post play are not being emphasized.

Redshirt junior forward Will Felder is an exception to that, but the RedHawks will have to keep shooting a lot from long distance. And right now, that area is a bit frosty.

MU (7-10), which hosts Ball State (7-10) Saturday afternoon, is shooting 33.2 percent from 3-point range. The percentage has been under 30 in nine of the RedHawks’ 17 games. And in the last three contests, the percentage is 20.0 (11 of 55).

“That doesn’t shock me,” Cooper said. “If we’re able to knock down shots, we’re typically pretty decent.”

How is he attacking the problem?

“We do a lot of shooting, but part of that is recruiting,” Cooper said. “You’ve got to continue to recruit and get some guys in here with the ability to shoot the ball. It’s no different than anything else. Whatever you’re looking for, go out and recruit that.”

Felder has been the one consistent player down low for Miami, averaging 11.4 points and 5. 1 rebounds per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor.

The 6-foot-7, 202-pound Cleveland native has scored in double figures the last eight games and has not shot below 50.0 percent in any of those contests.

“I play around the basket, and when I get the ball, I just try to play physical and be efficient,” Felder said. “I try not to let the defense take me out of what I’m trying to do.”

Felder sat out last season after transferring from St. Francis (Pa.), where he played two seasons and averaged 11.1 points and 6.7 boards per game as a sophomore. Cooper said Felder’s energy level has been terrific of late, though it was a bit erratic early in the year.

“In fairness to Will, he sat out for a year,” Cooper said. “There is a thing called getting rhythm, timing, getting the feel and flow back. In some ways, it’s like coming back from an injury.

“I think he’s really starting to get his feet under him now, and he’s comfortable. He has a high motor. It’s running, it’s active, it’s quick, and at times it’s relentless. That’s what kind of guy he is. He has to be a high-energy player.”