2024–25 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team

2024–25 Toledo Rockets men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record18–15 (10–8 MAC)
Head coach
Associate head coachJeff Massey (11th season)
Justin Ingram (7th season)
Assistant coaches
Home arenaSavage Arena
2024–25 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Akron † 17 – 1   .944 28 – 7   .800
Miami (OH) 14 – 4   .778 25 – 9   .735
Kent State 11 – 7   .611 24 – 12   .667
10 – 8   .556 18 – 15   .545
Ohio 10 – 8   .556 16 – 16   .500
Western Michigan 9 – 9   .500 12 – 20   .375
Eastern Michigan 9 – 9   .500 16 – 16   .500
Bowling Green 8 – 10   .444 14 – 18   .438
Ball State 7 – 11   .389 14 – 17   .452
Central Michigan 7 – 11   .389 14 – 17   .452
Buffalo 4 – 14   .222 9 – 22   .290
Northern Illinois 2 – 16   .111 6 – 25   .194
† 2025 MAC tournament winner

The 2024–25 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team represented the University of Toledo during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rockets, led by 15th-year head coach Tod Kowalczyk, played their home games at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio, as members of the Mid-American Conference.

Previous season

The Rockets finished the 2023–24 season 20–12, 14–4 in MAC play, to win their fourth straight regular-season MAC championship.[1] They were upset by Kent State in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament.[2] Toledo was not selected for the NIT and declined invitations to participate in the CBI and the CIT, ending their season.[3]

Offseason

Departures

Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Ra'Heim Moss 0 G 6'4" 205 Junior Springfield, Ohio Transferred to Oregon
Dante Maddox Jr. 21 G 6'2" 185 RS Junior Chicago Heights, Illinois Transferred to Xavier
Tyler Cochran 23 G 6'2" 225 Junior Bolingbrook, Illinois Transferred to Minnesota
Marko Maletic 27 G 6'6" 208 Junior London, Ontario Transferred to Western Illinois
Ben Wight 35 F 6'9" 220 Junior Columbus, Ohio Transferred to Stony Brook

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Isaiah Adams 7 G 6'7" 225 Fifth year Jacksonville, Florida Buffalo
Seth Hubbard 12 G 6'4" 195 Junior Jonesboro, Georgia Western Michigan
Colin O'Rourke 20 F 6'8" 225 Graduate student Plainfield, Illinois Wisconsin–Parkside

Recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Jaylen Murphy
G
Holland, Ohio St. John's Jesuit High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Ka'leel Stillman
C
Orlando, Florida Montverde Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Tyler Ode
G
Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw Heritage High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Jaylan Ouwinga
F
Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids Christian High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.

Preseason

On October 22, 2024 the MAC released the preseason coaches poll. Toledo was picked to finish fourth in the MAC regular season.[4]

Preseason rankings

MAC preseason poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Ohio 121 (11)
2 Akron 106 (1)
3 Kent State 99
4 Toledo 95
5 Bowling Green 73
6 Miami (OH) 72
7 Ball State 67
8 Central Michigan 55
9 Eastern Michigan 36
10 Western Michigan 33
11 Northern Illinois 24
12 Buffalo 11

MAC Tournament Champions: Ohio (8), Kent State (3), Toledo (1)

Source[4]

Preseason All-MAC

Preseason All-MAC teams
Team Player Position Year
First Javan Simmons Forward Sophomore
Second Isaiah Adams Guard Fifth year

Source[4]

Roster

2024–25 Toledo Rockets men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 1 Javan Simmons 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So Gahanna-Lincoln High School Gahanna, Ohio
G 2 Bryce Ford 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Pinnacle High School Scottsdale, Arizona
G 3 Sonny Wilson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Detroit Jesuit High School Pontiac, Michigan
F 4 Xavier Thomas 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (109 kg) So Brother Rice High School Detroit, Michigan
G 6 Jaylen Murphy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr St. John's Jesuit High School Holland, Ohio
G 7 Isaiah Adams (5Y) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Buffalo Jacksonville, Florida
C 10 Ka'leel Stillman 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Montverde Academy Orlando, Florida
G 11 Sam Lewis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Simeon Career Academy Chicago, Illinois
G 12 Seth Hubbard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Western Michigan Jonesboro, Georgia
F 13 André Lorentsson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Saint Louis Gothenburg, Sweden
F 20 Colin O'Rourke 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) GS Wisconsin–Parkside Plainfield, Illinois
G 22 Tyler Ode 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Saginaw Heritage High School Saginaw, Michigan
F 24 Grgur Brcic 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So Williston Northampton School Zagreb, Croatia
F 32 Jaylan Ouwinga 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Grand Rapids Christian High School Grand Rapids, Michigan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on
  • (5Y) Fifth-year senior
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 14, 2024

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 19, 2024*
2:00 pm
Grand Valley State W 76–71  –
 15 – Wilson   6 – Tied    – -  Savage Arena 
Toledo, OH
October 25, 2024*
7:30 pm, BTN
at Michigan L 92–96  –
 21 – Simmons   5 – Simmons   4 – Wilson  Crisler Center (9,915)
Ann Arbor, MI
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Troy
MAC-SBC Challenge
L 74–84  0–1
 19 – Simmons   8 – Simmons   5 – Wilson  Trojan Arena (3,369)
Troy, Alabama
November 9, 2024*
2:00 pm, ESPN+
at Marshall W 90–80  1–1
 17 – Tied   7 – Adams   3 – Simmons  Cam Henderson Center (3,759)
Huntington, WV
November 13, 2024*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Wright State W 86–77  2–1
 20 – Wilson   8 – Wilson   6 – Simmons  Savage Arena (4,037)
Toledo, OH
November 16, 2024*
4:00 pm, ESPN+
at Detroit Mercy W 82–67  3–1
 22 – Wilson   8 – Lewis   6 – Wilson  Calihan Hall (1,098)
Detroit, MI
November 21, 2024*
5:30 pm, BallerTV
vs. Stetson
Boardwalk Battle quarterfinals
W 103–78  4–1
 21 – Wilson   5 – Simmons   6 – Wilson  Ocean Center (752)
Daytona Beach, FL
November 22, 2024*
5:30 pm, BallerTV
vs. Jacksonville State
Boardwalk Battle semifinals
W 82–80  5–1
 16 – Lewis   5 – Wilson   6 – Adams  Ocean Center (920)
Daytona Beach, FL
November 23, 2024*
5:30 pm, BallerTV
vs. UC San Diego
Boardwalk Battle championship
L 45–80  5–2
 10 – Tied   5 – Tied   2 – Wilson  Ocean Center (0)
Daytona Beach, FL
November 30, 2024*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Oakland L 52–85  5–3
 13 – Wilson   8 – Simmons   4 – Tied  Savage Arena (4,008)
Toledo, OH
December 7, 2024*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Defiance W 111–49  6–3
 18 – Lewis   9 – Brcic   9 – Adams  Savage Arena (3,845)
Toledo, OH
December 14, 2024*
1:00 pm, ESPN+
at Youngstown State L 87–93  6–4
 21 – Lewis   8 – Lewis   4 – Wilson  Beeghly Center (2,416)
Youngstown, OH
December 18, 2024*
8:00 pm, ESPN+
at No. 15 Houston L 49–78  6–5
 14 – Lewis   6 – Brcic   3 – Adams  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
December 29, 2024*
6:00 pm, BTN
at No. 21 Purdue L 64–83  6–6
 13 – Tied   11 – Lewis   3 – Adams  Mackey Arena (14,876)
West Lafayette, IN
MAC regular season
January 4, 2025
12:00 pm, ESPN+
at Western Michigan W 76–70  7–6
(1–0)
 20 – Wilson   10 – Lewis   5 – Wilson  University Arena (1,819)
Kalamazoo, MI
January 7, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Eastern Michigan W 90–87  8–6
(2–0)
 20 – Lewis   8 – Simmons   6 – Adams  Savage Arena (4,246)
Toledo, OH
January 10, 2025
8:00 pm, CBSSN
Central Michigan W 69–67  9–6
(3–0)
 17 – Simmons   8 – Simmons   5 – Tied  Savage Arena (3,974)
Toledo, OH
January 14, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Akron L 78–85  9–7
(3–1)
 17 – Adams   10 – Wilson   5 – Wilson  James A. Rhodes Arena (2,011)
Akron, OH
January 18, 2025
2:00 pm, ESPN+
at Ball State W 93–75  10–7
(4–1)
 21 – Lewis   12 – Simmons   3 – Wilson  Worthen Arena (4,412)
Muncie, IN
January 21, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Kent State L 64–83  10–8
(4–2)
 19 – Tied   7 – Simmons   5 – Adams  Savage Arena (3,983)
Toledo, OH
January 24, 2025
6:00 pm, CBSSN
at Bowling Green W 84–71  11–8
(5–2)
 18 – Tied   9 – Simmons   5 – Wilson  Stroh Center (4,072)
Bowling Green, OH
January 28, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN2
at Ohio W 86–83  12–8
(6–2)
 15 – Tied   9 – Hubbard   4 – Tied  Convocation Center (4,442)
Athens, OH
February 1, 2025
2:00 pm, ESPN+
Northern Illinois W 89–85  13–8
(7–2)
 23 – Lewis   12 – Simmons   7 – Adams  Savage Arena (5,057)
Toledo, OH
February 4, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Buffalo W 87–74  14–8
(8–2)
 19 – Lewis   10 – Simmons   6 – Simmons  Savage Arena (4,052)
Toledo, OH
February 8, 2025*
2:00 pm, ESPN+
James Madison
MAC-Sun Belt Challenge
W 72–69  15–8
 22 – Lewis   8 – Simmons   3 – Wilson  Savage Arena (4,438)
Toledo, OH
February 11, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Miami (OH) L 80–92  15–9
(8–3)
 23 – Wilson   7 – Simmons   5 – Wilson  Millett Hall (2,661)
Oxford, OH
February 15, 2025
3:30 pm, ESPN+
at Eastern Michigan L 73–80  15–10
(8–4)
 13 – Adams   6 – Ford   3 – Tied  George Gervin GameAbove Center (2,813)
Ypsilanti, MI
February 18, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Ball State W 67–66  16–10
(9–4)
 18 – Adams   9 – Simmons   3 – Tied  Savage Arena (3,947)
Toledo, OH
February 21, 2025
6:00 pm, CBSSN
Bowling Green L 68–69  16–11
(9–5)
 21 – Lewis   11 – Ford   7 – Adams  Savage Arena (6,837)
Toledo, OH
February 25, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Kent State L 65–105  16–12
(9–6)
 17 – Lewis   7 – Simmons   3 – Adams  MAC Center (2,104)
Kent, OH
March 1, 2025
4:30 pm, ESPN+
at Buffalo L 74–87  16–13
(9–7)
 21 – Simmons   7 – Simmons   5 – Adams  Alumni Arena (2,597)
Amherst, NY
March 4, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Akron L 87–96  16–14
(9–8)
 23 – Lewis   6 – Simmons   5 – Adams  Savage Arena (4,145)
Toledo, OH
March 7, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Ohio W 96–82  17–14
(10–8)
 22 – Simmons   9 – Hubbard   5 – Adams  Savage Arena (5,397)
Toledo, OH
MAC tournament
March 13, 2025
1:30 pm, ESPN+
(4) vs. (5) Ohio
Quarterfinals
W 90–85 OT 18–14
 26 – Adams   13 – Wilson   3 – Wilson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (8,737)
Cleveland, OH
March 14, 2025
7:30 pm, CBSSN
(4) vs. (1) Akron
Semifinals
L 90–100  18–15
 28 – S. Hubbard   7 – J. Simmons   3 – S. Wilson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 
Cleveland, OH
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.

Sources:[5][6]

References