2020–21 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team represented the University of Toledo during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rockets, led by 11th-year head coach Tod Kowalczyk, played their home games at Savage Arena, as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Rockets finished the season 21–9, 15–4 in MAC play to win MAC regular season championship. They defeated Ball State in the first round of the MAC Tournament before losing to eventual tournament champions Ohio in the second round. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost to Richmond in the first round.[1]

2020–21 Toledo Rockets men's basketball
MAC Regular Season champions
NIT, First Round
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
2020–21 record21–9 (15–4 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaSavage Arena
2020–21 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Toledo154 .789219  .700
Buffalo125 .706169  .640
Akron126 .667158  .652
Kent State126 .667158  .652
Ohio95 .643178  .680
Bowling Green108 .5561412  .538
Miami (OH)98 .5291211  .522
Ball State89 .4711013  .435
Western Michigan412 .250516  .238
Eastern Michigan311 .214612  .333
Central Michigan313 .188716  .304
Northern Illinois212 .143316  .158
2021 MAC Tournament winner

Previous season

The Rockets finished the 2019–20 season 17–15, 8–10 in MAC play to finish third place in the West division. They defeated Western Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tournament before the tournament and all subsequent postseason tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Gavin Bizeau0F6'11"210SophomorePlainfield, INTransferred to Marian University[3]
T. J. Smith1F6'8"195FreshmanMatteson, ILTransferred to Barry[4]
Aaron Etherington2F6'6"195FreshmanFishers, INTransferred to Indianapolis[5]
Donavan Moore5G6'3"175FreshmanHillsboro, ILTransferred to Green Bay[6]
Dylan Alderson21G6'5"205JuniorClarkston, MITransferred to Indiana Wesleyan[7]
Willie Jackson23F6'6"215SeniorCleveland, OHGraduated
Luke Knapke30C6'11"245SeniorMaria Stein, OHGraduated

2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Ryan Rollins
#85 SG
Macomb, MI Dakota 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Nov 13, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:
Jamere Hill
SG
Joliet, IL Joliet West 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jan 11, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Ra'Heim Moss
SG
Springfield, OH SPIRE Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Nov 30, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2020-12-02.

    Incoming transfers

    NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
    Setric Millner Jr.2F6'6"205JuniorLittle Rock, ARTransferred from Northwest Florida State College. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[8]
    J.T. Shumate32F6'7"210JuniorNewark, OHTransferred from Walsh University. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[8]
    Jonathan Komagum35F6'9"215JuniorLondon, EnglandTransferred from Williston State College. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[8]

    Roster

    2020–21 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Ra'Heim Moss 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrSPIRE Academy Springfield, OH
    G 1 Jamere Hill 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrJoliet West Joliet, IL
    F 2 Setric Millner Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) JrNorthwest Florida State College Little Rock, AR
    G 3 Marreon Jackson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg) SrGarfield Heights Cleveland, OH
    G 4 Mattia Acunzo 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)235 lb (107 kg) RS FrKennedy Catholic Sardinia, Italy
    G 5 Ryan Rollins 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrDakota Macomb, MI
    G 11 Spencer Littleson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg) SrRochester Adams
    Duquesne
    Rochester Hills, MI
    F 12 Luke Maranka 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)205 lb (93 kg) SoGrand Rapids Angels Homeschool Ada, MI
    F 15 A. J. Edu 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)215 lb (98 kg) SoSouth Gloucestershire and Stroud College Colchester, England
    G 22 Blake Williams (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrSt. John's Jesuit Holland, OH
    G 24 Keshaun Saunders 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS SoOrangeville Prep Brampton, ON
    F 32 J.T. Shumate  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrNewark
    Walsh University
    Newark, OH
    F 35 Jonathan Komagum 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrWilliston State College London, England
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-conference regular season
    November 25, 2020*
    3:15 p.m.
    vs. Bradley
    Xavier Invitational
    L 59–61  0–1
     17  Millner Jr.  7  Komagum  4  Jackson  Cintas Center (111)
    Cincinnati, OH
    November 26, 2020*
    3:15 p.m.
    vs. Oakland
    Xavier Invitational
    W 80–53  1–1
     24  Littleson  9  Millner Jr.  8  Jackson  Cintas Center (36)
    Cincinnati, OH
    November 27, 2020*
    12:00 p.m., FS1
    at Xavier
    Xavier Invitational
    L 73–76  1–2
     20  Rollins  15  Millner Jr.  6  Jackson  Cintas Center (300)
    Cincinnati, OH
    December 1, 2020*
    7:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Cleveland State W 70–61  2–2
     17  Millner Jr.  11  Komagum  5  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    December 4, 2020
    7:00 p.m., ESPN3
    at Eastern Michigan W 91–74  3–2
    (1–0)
     20  Jackson  7  Saunders  5  Jackson  Convocation Center (0)
    Ypsilanti, MI
    December 9, 2020
    7:00 p.m., FS1
    at No. 19 Michigan L 71–91  3–3
     14  Millner Jr.  6  Millner Jr.  4  Rollins  Crisler Center (0)
    Ann Arbor, MI
    December 12, 2020*
     ESPN3
    Kansas City W 64–57  4–3
     17  Millner Jr.  10  Millner Jr.  3  Millner Jr.  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    December 16, 2020*
    6:00 p.m., C-USA TV
    at Marshall W 96–87 OT 5–3
     23  Jackson  13  Rollins  8  Jackson  Cam Henderson Center (1,222)
    Huntington, WV
    December 19, 2020*
    2:00 p.m.
    Valparaiso W 71–55  6–3
     18  Jackson  8  Littleson  5  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    MAC regular season
    December 22, 2020
    2:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Northern Illinois W 78–55  7–3
    (2–0)
     18  Littleson  11  Rollins  6  Millner Jr.  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    January 2, 2021
    2:00 p.m., ESPN3
    at Western Michigan W 70–59  8–3
    (3–0)
     20  Rollins  9  Shumate  4  Jackson  University Arena (0)
    Kalamazoo, MI
    January 5, 2021
    6:00 p.m., ESPN3
    at Kent State W 84–82  9–3
    (4–0)
     26  Littleson  6  Rollins  5  Jackson  Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (0)
    Kent, OH
    January 8, 2021
    6:30 p.m., CBSSN
    Ohio W 95–78  10–3
    (5–0)
     18  Jackson  7  Millner Jr.  6  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    January 12, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Eastern Michigan W 96–63  11–3
    (6–0)
     20  Saunders  7  Millner Jr.  5  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    January 16, 2021
    2:00 p.m., ESPN3
    at Akron L 94–95 OT 11–4
    (6–1)
     24  Jackson  9  Jackson  10  Jackson  Rhodes Arena (0)
    Akron, OH
    January 19, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+
    Central Michigan W 89-72  12–4
    (7–1)
     25  Rollins  7  Rollins  9  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    January 23, 2021
    12:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Kent State W 76-74  13–4
    (8–1)
     31  Jackson  6  Millner Jr.  5  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    January 26, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+
    at Miami (OH) W 90-81  14–4
    (9–1)
     33  Shumate  5  Rollins  6  Rollins  Millett Hall (0)
    Oxford, OH
    January 30, 2021
    5:00 p.m., ESPN+
    at Bowling Green W 84-66  15–4
    (10–1)
     19  Littleson  12  Jackson  7  Jackson  Stroh Center (0)
    Bowling Green, OH
    February 2, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+
    Akron W 91-76  16–4
    (11–1)
     25  Shumate  11  Jackson  8  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    February 6, 2021
    12:00 p.m., CBSSN
    at Ball State L 67–81  16–5
    (11–2)
     13  Shumate  8  Millner Jr.  4  Jackson  Worthen Arena (0)
    Muncie, IN
    February 9, 2021
    3:00 p.m., ESPN+
    at Northern Illinois Postponed due to COVID-19 Convocation Center (-)
    DeKalb, IL
    February 13, 2021
    2:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Bowling Green L 81–88  16–6
    (11–3)
     27  Jackson  14  Jackson  8  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    February 16, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Miami (OH) W 87–75  17–6
    (12–3)
     25  Littleson  10  Jackson  11  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    February 19, 2021
    9:00 p.m., ESPN2
    at Buffalo W 80–70  18–6
    (13–3)
     20  Jackson  7  Millner Jr.  6  Jackson  Alumni Arena (0)
    Amherst, NY
    February 27, 2021
    5:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Western Michigan W 91–44  19–6
    (14–3)
     22  Jackson  10  Millner Jr  8  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    March 2, 2021
    5:00 p.m., ESPN+
    at Central Michigan L 79–81  19–7
    (14–4)
     17  Rollins  14  Jackson  4  Jackson  McGuirk Arena (0)
    Mount Pleasant, MI
    March 5, 2021
    7:00 p.m., CBSSN
    Ball State W 89–70  20–7
    (15–4)
     22  Jackson  13  Jackson  10  Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
    Toledo, OH
    MAC Tournament
    Mar 11, 2021
    11:00 a.m., ESPN+
    (1) vs. (8) Ball State
    Quarterfinals
    W 91–89 OT 21–7
     29  Jackson  12  Millner Jr.  4  Jackson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (0)
    Cleveland, OH
    Mar 12, 2021
    5:00 p.m., CBSSN
    (1) vs. (5) Ohio
    Semifinals
    L 80–87  21–8
     29  Jackson  10  Littleson  2  Jackson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (0)
    Cleveland, OH
    NIT
    Mar 17, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN2
    (3) vs. (2) Richmond
    First Round – Saint Louis bracket
    L 66–76  21–9
     18  Rollins  6  Millner Jr.  4  Millner Jr.  UNT Coliseum (731)
    Denton, TX
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    References

    1. "Toledo vs. Richmond - Game Recap - March 17, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    2. Jimenez, James H. (2020-03-12). "2020 MAC Basketball Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19". Hustle Belt. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    3. "NO. 12 KNIGHTS PULL AWAY FROM REDSTORM". University of Rio Grande. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    4. Perez, Rainier (May 5, 2020). "BarryU Hoops Signs Second DI Transfer - T.J. Smith". Barry Buccaneers. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    5. Neddenriep, Kyle (April 28, 2020). "Basketball recruiting notebook: Plenty of transfer news involving Indy-area players". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    6. Venci, Scott (April 23, 2020). "UWGB men's basketball team adds former Toledo guard". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    7. "#32 Dylan Alderson". Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
    8. Buckey, Brian (April 17, 2020). "Toledo basketball reloads with seven-man recruiting class". Toledo Blade. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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