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2019–20 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team

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2019–20 Toledo Rockets men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record17–15 (8–10 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaSavage Arena
Seasons
2019–20 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Akron 14 4   .778 24 7   .774
Bowling Green 12 6   .667 21 10   .677
Buffalo 11 7   .611 20 12   .625
Kent State 9 9   .500 20 12   .625
Ohio 8 10   .444 17 15   .531
Miami (OH) 5 13   .278 13 19   .406
West
Ball State 11 7   .611 18 13   .581
Northern Illinois 11 7   .611 18 13   .581
Toledo 8 10   .444 17 15   .531
Central Michigan 7 11   .389 14 18   .438
Western Michigan 6 12   .333 13 19   .406
Eastern Michigan 6 12   .333 16 16   .500
Note: The 2020 MAC tournament was canceled prior to the quarterfinals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2019–20 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team represent the University of Toledo during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rockets, led by tenth-year head coach Tod Kowalczyk, play their home games at Savage Arena, as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.

Previous season

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The Rockets finished the 2018–19 season 25–8, 13–5 in MAC play to win the MAC West division championship. As the No. 2 seed in the MAC tournament, they lost to Northern Illinois in the quarterfinals round. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Xavier.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
James Gordon IV 0 F 6'5" 225 Sophomore Shelbyville, KY Graduate transferred to Wayne State University[1]
Jaelan Sanford 13 G 6'4" 200 Senior Evansville, IN Graduated
Matt Schaffer 4 G 6'1" 185 Junior Sylvania, OH
Nate Navigato 35 F 6'8" 170 Senior Lawrence, KS Graduated
Chris Darington 32 G 6'1" 185 Senior Toledo, OH Graduated
Logan Hill 41 F 6'7" 215 Redshirt Freshman Massillion, OH Transferred to the University of Mount Union[2]

Incoming Transfers

[edit]
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Gavin Bizeau 14 F 6’11” 210 Freshman Plainfield, IN Transferred from Duquesne University[3]

Recruiting class of 2019

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US college sports recruiting information for 2019 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Luke Maranka
PF
Ada, MI Grand Rapids Angels Homeschool 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sep 19, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Donavan Moore
SG
West Bloomfield, MI West Bloomfield High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) N/A Jul 17, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Aaron Etherington
SF
Fishers, IN Hamilton Southeastern High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jul 2, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Mattia Acunzo
SF
Sardinia, Italy Kennedy Catholic High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Oct 13, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
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:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 27, 2018.

Roster

[edit]
2019–20 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Gavin Bizeau 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Plainfield
Duquesne
Plainfield, IN
F 1 T. J. Smith 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Fr Aspire Academy Matteson, IL
F 2 Aaron Etherington 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Hamilton Southeastern Fishers, IN
G 3 Marreon Jackson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Garfield Heights Cleveland, OH
G 4 Mattia Acunzo 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Kennedy Catholic Sardinia, Italy
G 5 Donavan Moore 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr West Bloomfield Hillsboro, IL
G 11 Spencer Littleson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Rochester Adams
Duquesne
Rochester Hills, MI
F 12 Luke Maranka 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Grand Rapids Angels Homeschool Ada, MI
F 15 A. J. Edu 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So South Gloucestershire and Stroud College Colchester, England
G 21 Dylan Alderson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Clarkston Clarkston, MI
G 22 Blake Williams (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr St. John's Jesuit Holland, OH
F 23 Willie Jackson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Garfield Heights
Missouri
Cleveland, OH
G 24 Keshaun Saunders 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Fr Orangeville Prep Brampton, ON
C 30 Luke Knapke 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sr Marion Local Maria Stein, OH
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct 19, 2019*
7:00 pm
Hillsdale W 79–63 
Savage Arena 
Toledo, OH
Oct 27, 2019*
2:00 pm
Findlay W 75–68 
Croy Gymnasium (767)
Findlay, OH
Non-conference regular season
Nov 5, 2019*
8:00 pm, ESPN3
at Valparaiso L 77–79  0–1
Athletics–Recreation Center (2,412)
Valparaiso, IN
Nov 10, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
at Marshall
MABC Invitational
W 96–70  1–1
Cam Henderson Center (5,645)
Huntington, WV
Nov 16, 2018*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
Robert Morris
MABC Invitational
W 70–56  2–1
Savage Arena (4,231)
Toledo, OH
Nov 17, 2018*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
Howard
MABC Invitational
W 112–68  3–1
Savage Arena (4,220)
Toledo, OH
Nov 21, 2018*
8:30 pm, ACCN
at Notre Dame
MABC Invitational
L 62–64 OT 3–2
Edmund P. Joyce Center (6,555)
Notre Dame, IN
Nov 23, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPN+
Northwestern Ohio W 100–41  4–2
Savage Arena (3,717)
Toledo, OH
Nov 30, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Oakland W 65–63  5–2
Savage Arena (3,931)
Toledo, OH
Dec 4, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Cleveland State W 80–59  6–2
Wolstein Center (1,683)
Cleveland, OH
Dec 8, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPN+
Marshall W 82–72  7–2
Savage Arena (3,887)
Toledo, OH
Dec 14, 2019*
3:00 pm, ESPN+
at Detroit Mercy W 80–72  8–2
Calihan Hall (1,654)
Detroit, MI
Dec 17, 2019*
8:00 pm
at Kansas City L 57–72  8–3
Swinney Recreation Center (773)
Kansas City, MO
Dec 21, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPN+
Wright State L 72–79  8–4
Savage Arena (4,038)
Toledo, OH
Dec 28, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPN+
at Bradley L 66–78  8–5
Peoria Civic Center (5,293)
Peoria, IL
MAC regular season
Jan 3, 2020
7:00 pm, CBSSN
at Ball State L 57–61  0–1
Worthen Arena (8–6)
Muncie, IN
Jan 7, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Kent State L 77–84  8–7
(0–2)
Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (2,234)
Kent, OH
Jan 11, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Western Michigan W 67–59  9–7
(1–2)
Savage Arena (4,371)
Toledo, OH
Jan 14, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Central Michigan L 67–74  9–8
(1–3)
Savage Arena (3,341)
Toledo, OH
Jan 18, 2019
2:00 pm, ESPN3
at Akron W 99–89  10–8
(2–3)
James A. Rhodes Arena (4,386)
Akron, OH
Jan 21, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at Ohio W 83–74  11–8
(3–3)
Convocation Center 
Athens, OH
Jan 25, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Bowling Green L 79–85  11–9
(3–4)
Savage Arena (7,268)
Toledo, OH
Jan 28, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Kent State L 70–83  11–10
(3–5)
Savage Arena (4,033)
Toledo, OH
Feb 1, 2020
2:00 pm, ESPN3
at Eastern Michigan L 57–61  11–11
(3–6)
Convocation Center (2,382)
Ypsilanti, MI
Feb 4, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Northern Illinois L 61–66  11–12
(3–7)
Savage Arena (3,877)
Toledo, OH
Feb 8, 2020
4:30 pm, ESPN3
at Bowling Green L 83–85  11–13
(3–8)
Stroh Center (5,000)
Bowling Green, OH
Feb 11, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Miami (OH) W 65–57  12–13
(4–8)
Savage Arena (3,817)
Toledo, OH
Feb 14, 2020
6:30 pm, CBSSN
Buffalo L 67–83  12–14
(4–9)
Savage Arena (4,276)
Toledo, OH
Feb 22, 2020
6:00 pm, ESPN3
at Western Michigan W 68–59  13–14
(5–9)
University Arena (2,264)
Kalamazoo, MI
Feb 25, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Central Michigan W 93–81  14–14
(6–9)
McGuirk Arena (1,840)
Mount Pleasant, MI
Feb 29, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Ball State W 69–63  15–14
(7–9)
Savage Arena (5,842)
Toledo, OH
Mar 3, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPN+
at Northern Illinois L 50–71  15–15
(7–10)
Convocation Center (1,019)
Dekalb, IL
Mar 6, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Eastern Michigan W 79–57  16–15
(8–10)
Savage Arena (4,823)
Toledo, OH
MAC tournament
Mar 9, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
(7) (10) Western Michigan
First round
W 76–73  17–15
Savage Arena (3,286)
Toledo, OH
March 12, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
(7) vs. (2) Bowling Green
Quarterfinals
MAC Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 
Cleveland, OH
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[4]

References

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  1. ^ "James Gordon IV - Men's Basketball". Wayne State University Athletics. Wayne State University. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Scalzo, Joe. "Ex-Jackson standout Logan Hill transferring to Mount Union". The Independent. Massillon Independent. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  3. ^ "Indiana Native Gavin Bizeau Transferring to Rockets". University of Toledo Athletics. UT Rockets. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  4. ^ "University of Toledo". utrockets.com.