Toledo Rockets
Mid-American Conference (19-12, 14-2)
Seed: #7
North Region
Big Wins:
11/20 VCU (60-59), 1/27 Miami Oh (61-56), 2/10 Akron (68-65)
Bad Losses:
12/22 Drake (52-70), 12/23 at UTEP (71-92), 12/30 at Oakland (78-88)
Coach:
Stan Joplin
Probable
Starters:
Kashif Payne,
Junior, Guard, 7.7 ppg, 4.3 apg
Justin Ingram,
Senior, Guard, 14.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, 4.5 rpg
Ridley Johnson,
Sophomore, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg
Keonta Howell,
Senior, Guard, 14.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Florentino
Valencia, Senior, Forward, 13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Key
Roleplayers:
Jonathan Amos,
Sophomore, Guard, 6.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Tyrone Kent,
Sophomore, Guard, 5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Jerrah Young,
Junior, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
Toledo has
quietly put together another great season. Besides a string of bad losses in
late December, the Rockets managed to perform decently through a tough
non-conference slate and win some tough road games in conference, although
the conference schedule was not a particularly difficult one compared to
other MAC teams.
Justin Ingram
and Kashif Payne lead the way from the backcourt. When Ingram is feeling it
from long range, the 6-3 senior can take over a game. When his shot is not
falling, he will still help out his team with his rebounding, assists and
stellar defense. Payne is lightning quick and has become a steady point
guard for Toledo. The 5-9 junior will look for his teammates first. His jump
shot lacks consistency, but Payne is a scoring threat using his speed to get
to the basket.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
The Rockets are
extremely undersized. Keonta Howell is really a 6-5 wing playing at the
power forward spot and, at 6-6, Florentino Valencia mans the center
position. While they can be outmatched by bigger opposition, Howell and
Valencia are tough players who are not afraid to mix it up under the basket.
Howell, however, is more effective on the perimeter and is Toledo’s most
efficient three-point shooter. Valencia is a consistent scorer under the
basket and that helps open up space for the rest of the team. If he is
having problems scoring, Toledo becomes a much easier team to defend.
Who To
Watch:
Sophomores
Jonathan Amos, Ridley Johnson and Tyrone Kent are not explosive scorers at
this point in their careers, but the Rockets need them to be productive in
one way or another. Johnson and Kent have split starting time throughout the
season and Amos has the shooting ability to put up big numbers in spurts.
By the
Numbers:
Scoring
Offense: 69.2 (163rd in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring
Defense: 67.8 (150, 5)
Field-Goal
Percentage: 45.1 (137, 6)
Field-Goal
Defense: 47.9 (312, 12)
Free-Throw
Percentage: 67.1 (216, 10)
Rebound Margin:
-4.4 (287, 11)
Assists Per
Game: 12.5 (228, 8)
Turnovers Per
Game: 14.2 (138, 6)
Joel’s
Bracket Says: First Round loss to Florida State
▪
NIT
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