Michigan hosts Toledo tonight (7:00 pm, ESPN2) in the opening round of the NIT. The Wolverines had an adventurous time against the MAC this season, knocking off Ohio in overtime, topping Eastern Michigan in a raucous affair in Detroit, and suffering a costly upset loss against Central Michigan.
Toledo is better than all three schools, especially on offense. The Rockets finished 27-7 on the season and rode a 17-game winning streak into March before falling short in the MAC Championship game against Kent State. Head coach Tod Kowalczyk has been as dominant in the MAC as one can be without reaching the Big Dance. The Rockets have finished in the top 100 in KenPom in four of the last five years and have a three-year regular conference title streak.
Despite three consecutive league titles, Toledo’s last four seasons have all ended with either a two-game losing streak (the MAC Tournament and the NIT first round) or COVID-19.
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- Elite offense
- RayJ Dennis can play
- No defense, no size
- Keys
- Bottom Line
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