We all have been calling for 40 minutes of good defense and tonight Toledo brought it to Savage. In a game where the offense was not clicking like usual, Toledo road their defense to victory over The Zips. limiting Akron to 40% shooting, including a dismal 7-26 from three-point land. Add in forcing 13 turnovers and 10 steals, the Rockets showed they can play some defense when locked in on that side of the floor. One key strategy change from the previous game with Akron was the decision this time to double team Ali Ali almost every time he touched the ball. While he scored 14 points, that was 12 points less than what he got against Toledo last time out. Toledo also held their own on the boards only being outrebounded by two for the game. However, in crunch time Akron dominated Toledo on the glass which was a major reason they got themselves back in the game. However, Toledo answered 3 straight possessions late when Akron trimmed the lead to 4 points. As for the player of the game, it is a no brainer – Sonny Wilson who continues to grow up before our eyes. His improvement has made Toledo an even more difficult team to defend against. Props to the other Freshmen (Simmons, Lewis, and Ford) who all contributed to the victory. The two Akron/Toledo games were similar in that the home team led for most of the game and then the road team made a late run before coming up short at the end. I can see a similar type of game in Cleveland next month when neither team will have home court advantage. I cannot wait!

This is an interesting team. lol. Nobody would have thought Toledo would be this good after so many personnel changes, yet here they are. It would be odd after so many great teams falling short, that this one makes it to the NCAA Tournament. But it would certainly be welcome. Kudos to Coach K! He just keeps putting the pieces back together again. I would imagine he’s the front runner for MAC Coach of the Year.

Wilson uses his body well to make space. He made some tough buckets inside. When Cochran played for BSU and covered Rollins, he was pretty effective. We are seeing all of that and more out of him now. He hits some tough shots. It was a really impressive night. I thought Wight and Lorentsson played tenacious D and were working hard under the hoop. I would love to see these two on offensive rebounds not bring the ball down where it can get swatted away. Go right back up with the ball. Get good at shooting the rebound. Don’t bring it down. Just soft touch it in. I loved how well Lewis and Ford played. The switch in the first half with Ford, Lewis, Lorentsson, and Wight subbing in did well. I think Toledo extended the lead when they were running the floor. These guys need quality minutes. Tyler is looking a little gimpy coming out of the breaks. He might benefit from a little more rest. I appreciated the younger guys getting some more time. More of that and they will really come around. The team had a lot of hustle tonight. Well done.

Akron coach's post-game comments:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1760134273170862145

As Wilson’s game has developed, it seems he has taken over the role as the team’s antagonist, the one most likely to get in the face of opposing players and give the Rockets a spark in the process. Moss had that role for years. I don’t know if the change is by design, but it seems to be a positive development for both players, and the team as a whole.

(02-21-2024 12:10 AM)Młot Polski Wrote:  Akron coach's post-game comments:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1760134273170862145

Good assessment. The zips did not shoot well in the 1st half and ended up at 40% for the game. There were a number of empty possessions in the first half. I think there was a total of 5 points scored in the first 5 minutes. The lid didn’t come off for Toledo until Moss made a free throw. Credit both defenses. I’m not sure I buy the comment that it was surprising Moss an and Cochran had 5 three’s between them. Seems to me that is frequent. Moss’s early threes were pivotal.

(02-21-2024 07:13 AM)PTLROCK Wrote:  

(02-21-2024 12:10 AM)Młot Polski Wrote:  Akron coach's post-game comments:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1760134273170862145

Good assessment. The zips did not shoot well in the 1st half and ended up at 40% for the game. There were a number of empty possessions in the first half. I think there was a total of 5 points scored in the first 5 minutes. The lid didn’t come off for Toledo until Moss made a free throw. Credit both defenses. I’m not sure I buy the comment that it was surprising Moss an and Cochran had 5 three’s between them. Seems to me that is frequent. Moss’s early threes were pivotal.

They haven’t ever combined for 5 threes. Twice they’ve had four, most recently against OU last week.

I went over to the zips board to see what the comments looked like. Same assessment on shooting woes and lack of production from non starters. The only thing that irked me was they think we flop on charges. I though all of those charges were legit and perfect defense.

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Huge win! A couple huge shots from Cochran down the stretch! It is so great to see the growth that Wilson has made this season!

A couple stats:

-The Rockets have now won 15 straight MAC home games going back to last season

-From the Blade: John Groce is now 1-7 all-time at Savage Arena. His only win came during his time at OU when he beat a 4 win Toledo team in overtime in 2010.

(02-21-2024 08:49 AM)emanoh Wrote:  I went over to the zips board to see what the comments looked like. Same assessment on shooting woes and lack of production from non starters. The only thing that irked me was they think we flop on charges. I though all of those charges were legit and perfect defense.

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Once you lean in with shoulder dropped it’s a foregone conclusion— charge. They did that on every charge. Easy calls.

(02-21-2024 09:52 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-21-2024 08:49 AM)emanoh Wrote:  I went over to the zips board to see what the comments looked like. Same assessment on shooting woes and lack of production from non starters. The only thing that irked me was they think we flop on charges. I though all of those charges were legit and perfect defense.

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Once you lean in with shoulder dropped it’s a foregone conclusion— charge. They did that on every charge. Easy calls.

Great body position D all night guys! Best D effort of the season by far. Toledo played with a fire all night and didn't fade in 2nd half. Playing 9 gave us just enough legs to get 0:00 with the big W. Love this team! Great effort and the fans have responded to the major effort they see. Love it!!!!!!!!!

Ut hung tough losing Javin in last few minutes. I'm rooting hard for Ben. Just wish he could get his confidence and convert more points. Even if we could get 5 per game what a difference that would make. I'm impressed we got the W despite JS being locked down most of evening. Disciplined well coached & hard playing focused team. Speaks well to staff and players. Good confidence builder for stretch.

Go Rockets!

(02-20-2024 10:23 PM)WHRocket Wrote:  Was at the game. It was very physical all game as you noticed on TV. Best full game defense by the rockets IMO. Wilson and Simmons have really progressed from early in the year. Felt like a playoff game with the intensity. Nice to see some quality minutes from the bench. Even Wight helped. He needs to give us 3 or4 minutes a half when we play against teams with bigs like Akron to give Simmons a break and keep him out of foul trouble. Go Rockets!

Exactly !!! didn't see your post till now. Almost my exact same thoughts as just posted above. D was great. Some bad calls? - yes. But we handled everything and got the W. BIG W

Love UT basketball season. A great diversion in winter. Both men's & women's games keep the schedule active.

Go Rockets!

Great effort all around, defense carried the night. If we do happen to play them again which is most likely, I think we are going to need a similar effort defensively to beat them in Cleveland. In the 2 games this season, Akron has held us to 72 and 70 points. While those numbers are above Akron's league leading Points per Game Defense of 64.8, they are well below our league leading average of 80ppg. In addition, The Zips also have the second best MAC Field Goal Defense at .424% and held us right around those numbers in both games which are significantly lower than what we shoot on average. Hopefully, we can figure out some things to get our offense flowing more smoothly against their tough defense, but to have the best chance to win, I think we are going to need to bring it defensively like we did last night!

Lots of standing around on offense with Moss never being in tripple threat position. Some more movement without the ball and we get to 80. Tons of full shot clocks used which limits Akron offensively though. Give and take.

(02-21-2024 12:41 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Lots of standing around on offense with Moss never being in tripple threat position. Some more movement without the ball and we get to 80. Tons of full shot clocks used which limits Akron offensively though. Give and take.

I'm grudgingly getting used to how this team plays. It ain't pretty, it's not smooth, nothing looks easy, nobody gets blown out, every game is a war from start to finish, and somehow someone comes up with big plays when that's what it takes to win. So far, so good. Wilson and Simmons are growing up fast and are showing the combative mettle that Moss, Cochrane and Maddox bring to this team.

If Wight or Burgic can contribute 12 min of decent ball, we have as much chance as anyone in the MACC. The 3 musketeers are a good bet each night, Simmons improving all year, knows what to do on the block and Wilson settling in.

Wight had 11 minutes and 4 boards. He could have had a few points as he missed a couple, but it's tough down there. Jaybird talked in the postgame how the Cochran, Andre, Lewis, Ford, and Wight rotation held their own in the first half. I thought they did too. I don't think Wight got much time in the second until Simmons fouled out. Still 5 games to work on what they need to work on. We didn't see Brcic. He has height, but I'm not sure he matched up well against Akron. Freeman is incredible. We really had no answer for him in the second half.

Echo on everything that has been said. The TV crew may have said that this was the best referring group. I thought they were inconsistent for both teams, on occasions lot of bumping, especially when UT was shooting the ball with no fouls called. On other occasions, ticky tack fouls were called on Simmons, maybe on Cochran for at least 1 foul. I am pretty sure Tribble and Freeman felt the same on their end. Either let the guys bang in there for both teams and not call it, or call it tight, be consistent. Wilson coming into his own, learning on the job as a freshmen. I am pulling for Wight so bad to have an offensive game. Well the Rockets kept their turnovers under 10 against a very aggressive Akron Zips. Had no answer for Freeman in the 2nd half, that's where UT needed a player like Edu who could play very good D.

Those technicals were horse s*&%. Tell both players we are not going to have that, same with the coaches. So all 3 refs got together to see what they were going to come up with, which should have been nothing. Just warning for both players. The only T that could have been called, is when Groce came out on the court, that deserved one.