Toledo Rockets
2021-2022 Overall Rank: #65
Conference Rank: #1 Mid-American
Toledo was clearly the team to beat in the MAC last season. They finished 15-4 in conference play and have now won at least a share of their division title five times in the last nine years. The Rockets have a bit more reloading to do than most Mid-American teams heading into the 2021-2022 campaign though and that should open the door for a very competitive conference campaign. Marreon Jackson left for Arizona State and Spencer Littleson is now playing professionally. Still, three starters who averaged double digits in the scoring column are back and Toledo will remain the team to beat until proven otherwise.
2020-21 Record: 21-9, 15-4
2020-21 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Tod Kowalczyk
Coach Record: 205-152 at Toledo, 341-264 overall
Key Departed Players:
Marreon Jackson, Guard, 18.1 ppg
Spencer Littleson, Guard, 13.4 ppg
Mattia Acunzo, Forward, 5.9 ppg
Jonathan Komagum, Forward/Center, 0.8 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Ryan Rollins, Sophomore, Guard, 13.7 ppg
Setric Millner Jr, Junior, Forward, 12.9 ppg
JT Shumate, Junior, Forward, 11.3 ppg
Keshaun Saunders, Junior, Guard, 6.8 ppg
Jamere Hill, Sophomore, Guard, 1.5 ppg
AJ Edu, Junior, Forward/Center, 1.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Jordan Burge, Junior, Guard, JC Transfer
Mihai Carcoana, Freshman, Center
RayJ Dennis, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Boise State
Arnor Eythorsson, Freshman, Forward
EJ Farmer, Freshman, Guard
Kooper Jacobi, Freshman, Forward
Ra’Heim Moss, Freshman, Guard
Elijah Wilson, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Sophomore Ryan Rollins will look to be the new leader of the backcourt. He ranked second on the Rockets with 13.7 points per game and added 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals. Keshaun Saunders is not one of those returning double-digit scorers, but he is more than ready to step into a larger role. Jamere Hill will see some minutes at the point after playing in just ten games as a freshman before suffering a season ending injury. However, Coach Tod Kowalczyk brought in an experienced point guard in RayJ Dennis to handle the starting point guard duties. He averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 assists starting for Boise State last season. Throw in some freshmen, most notably EJ Farmer, and the Toledo backcourt will be in good shape despite losing Jackson and Littleson. The frontcourt duo of Setric Millner and JT Shumate are back. Millner tallied 12.9 points and a team high 6.8 rebounds, while Shumate added 11.3 points and 1.3 blocks. Back in 2018-2019, AJ Edu was named to the MAC All-Freshman team. He has spent the better part of the last two seasons injured and, if healthy, can give Toledo a fine shot blocker in the paint. If all those pieces can come together, Toledo could dominate just as much as they did last season.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 81.1 (15th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.6 (238, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.6 (85, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.6 (137, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 10.5 (5, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.2 (33, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 78.0 (18, 1)
Rebound Margin: 0.2 (177, 5)
Assists Per Game: 16.0 (26, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.1 (35, 3)
