Toledo basketball displayed its depth and talent at an open practice as the regular season approaches
The Toledo Rockets held an open practice and intrasquad scrimmage in front of fans at Savage Arena on Saturday, showing off a new-look roster as the program continues to prepare for the upcoming campaign that tips off next month!
Toledo is set to be led by returning center Austin Parks (scored a career-best 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds last year after transferring from Ohio State), guard Will James Jr, forward Jaylan Ouwinga, guard Mynor Strong and forward Chris Riddle.
The Rockets also added a series of newcomers that should make an instant impact including Marquette transfer guard Sean Jones and Providence transfer forward Rich Barron, and freshmen trio Manny Johnson, Jaylohn Allen and Rashaun Porter.
There were a lot of highlights in the open practice as Riddle threw down a dunk, Ouwinga showed off his versatility with a bucket and a fastbreak assist, and James scored a nifty layup and capped off the scrimmage with an emphatic block.
Even though it’s just a scrimmage, Toledo displayed athleticism, depth and talent that should lead to success this year.
With the regular season coming up, it was certainly beneficial for the Rockets to practice and prepare for in-game situations.
Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk is heading into his 17th season at the helm and even though he’s had a ton of success in the Glass City, the Rockets are still searching for their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1980.
The Rockets were one win away from snapping the streak and clinching a berth in the NCAA Tournament last season, but a 79-76 loss to Akron in the MAC Tournament championship game ended the season, falling just short of their goals.
Toledo went 19-15 and 11-7 in MAC play last year, finishing in fourth place in the conference before going on a run to the title game. The Rockets won four straight MAC regular season titles from 2021-2024 but couldn’t take that next step.
Now, Toledo is focused on putting an end to the NCAA Tournament dry spell that has spanned for nearly five decades.
The Rockets have the experience and skill to end the drought, and we got a glimpse into that potential in the open practice.
