Toledo basketball spoke on the upcoming season, what it would mean to reach the NCAA Tournament, and more.
Toledo Rockets head coach Tod Kowalczyk and center Austin Parks looked forward to the upcoming regular season.
After falling just short a year ago, the Rockets are hoping to win the MAC title and secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite winning four consecutive MAC regular season championships from 2021-2024, Toledo wasn’t able to take the next step and win the MAC Tournament title, so the program's NCAA Tournament drought has stretched over four decades.
The Rockets were picked to finish in second place in the 2026 MAC Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll, so the program has its eyes set on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980 and the first time in Kowalczyk’s tenure.
Kowalczyk is one of the most successful coaches in school history, winning five MAC regular season titles since 2011. However, Toledo has fallen short of the NCAA Tournament under Kowalczyk, so it would mean a lot for him and the program.
“It would mean everything to me. It’s my dream too,” Parks said. “I’ve always wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament, so to get over the hump and play there, it would mean the world to me, and I can’t even imagine what it would mean to him.”
Toledo was on the verge of winning the MAC Tournament title and securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament last year, jumping out to a 42-30 lead at halftime before coming up short in a heartbreaking last-second 79-76 loss to the Akron Zips.
“A lot of things have to go your way to reach the tournament,” Kowalczyk said. “Losing a game like that is hard, and to lose on a stepback fadeaway, it was hard for us to take, but you just have to give credit to Akron for making a tough shot.”
It was a devastating loss for Toledo, feeling like they deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season, but have nothing to show for it. Now, the Rockets will attempt to use that crushing loss as fuel and motivation for this year.
Toledo will be led by All-MAC center Parks, who is coming off a career-high 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a season ago.
Additionally, the Rockets will lean on guard Mynor Strong, forward Jaylan Ouwinga, guard Will James Jr., and several transfers.
“Mynor Strong got so much better last year. He had a great finish to last season,” Kowalczyk said. “Our season started to change last year because Austin Parks, Jaylan Ouwinga, and Mynor Strong all continued to develop and really get better.”
The most notable transfers that are expected to make an impact for Toledo include former Marquette guard Sean Jones (took home All-MAC Preseason recognition), Providence forward Rich Barron, and UMass Lowell forward Angel Montas Jr.
“Sean was a great addition for us,” Kowalczyk told the media. “We knew him in high school and tried to recruit him. We’ve had a lot of success at the guard position, so recruiting Sean was easy for us, and he’ll be a huge part of our team.”
There’s no doubt that Toledo has what it takes to win the MAC championship and end the NCAA Tournament drought. It’s easier said than done, but the Rockets are focused on taking that next step. Now, it’s just about taking care of business.