Watched a replay of the Toledo/Cleveland State game. The announcers stated that Toledo's 11-0 start is the best start for a team in the MAC since Ball State's 88-89 team. Is that correct???

I can't remember any other team being undefeated at this point in the season in the last decade or so I've been following the conference.

Kinda difficult if you're not a Rocket fan to get excited about this...on one hand, it's great to see this type of start, but then I went through the opponents; none of them have been a quality victory...Boston College was the only "name" team and they're having a bad year.

The only challenging OOC game they play is Kansas...hopefully the streak will continue...

(12-23-2013 03:09 PM)wleakr Wrote:  Kinda difficult if you're not a Rocket fan to get excited about this...on one hand, it's great to see this type of start, but then I went through through the opponents, none of them have been a quality victory...Boston College was the only "name" team and they're having a bad year.

The only challenging OOC game they play is Kansas...hopefully the streak will continue...

I originally thought this too. But its impressive to have won the 4 true road games plus the 2 neutral site games. We all know how difficult it can be to win road games (see Ohio at Oakland or Akron at MTSU).

(12-23-2013 04:19 PM)Eagle66 Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 03:09 PM)wleakr Wrote:  Kinda difficult if you're not a Rocket fan to get excited about this...on one hand, it's great to see this type of start, but then I went through through the opponents, none of them have been a quality victory...Boston College was the only "name" team and they're having a bad year.

The only challenging OOC game they play is Kansas...hopefully the streak will continue...

I originally thought this too. But its impressive to have won the 4 true road games plus the 2 neutral site games. We all know how difficult it can be to win road games (see Ohio at Oakland or Akron at MTSU).

The somewhat disturbing thing is we're a pretty good team but so hard to say how good. The best I can say is we have found ways to win close games, including the CSU game and especially the twenty point second half comeback against BC. You don't get twenty point turnarounds on the road against ACC teams unless you're pretty good, even if the ACC team is pretty bad.

even with a loss to Kansas it will be interesting to see how long they go before their second loss. In Ohio's Sweet16 season they started off 12-1 with an early loss to Lville before losing their second game, Toledo has a good chance to beat that.

The 9 guys coach K has been using in the rotation can be interchanged a lot with hardly a drop off in talent. With different lineups in certain situations, they all seem to accept their roles with a lot of unselfish play. Thus the good start by the Rockets so far.

T O L

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Toledo is a talented team and off to a great start. Conference play and the MAC tournament are a completely different environment where its more intense and the advantage goes to teams that are battle tested with tournament experience. Toledo has not been in a MAC final in several years, so a team like Akron or Ohio with players who have been in those kind of pressure winner take all games may rise at that time. Akron is starting to peak just in time for conference play as expected. Zips looked strong vs Oregon State and probably impressed the guy in the purple shirt in the front row behind Oregon State bench that fills out a bracket every year.

I like the way the Rockets are playing. Many different guys getting involved. Coach K. plays 9 guys, and all are contributing solid minutes. Toledo hasn't been playing very well in first halves, but are shooting like 10% higher in the second half and making key adjustments. The Rockets have been down in a ton of games, then broken it open for double digit wins.

I agree Toledo's schedule hasn't been very tough, but the city is getting into it, and they do have a few quality wins. stAte, Sam Houston, Cleveland State, Detroit, Robert Morris, BC, and Kansas are all getting us ready for the MAC. The Rockets still have a lot to accomplish, and haven't even been in the MAC tourney since 2012..... Injuries and slumps among other things can happen in a season. But there is no better start than 11-0!

Here's RPI for Toledo's OOC-

6 Kansas

122 Detroit
122 Detroit
131 Arkansas State
150 Cleveland State
163 Boston College
165 Sam Houston St
180 Stony Brook

220 Coppin State
232 Robert Morris

301 Florida A&M
302 Florida Atlantic

This mix will prepare them for conference play. Its too bad they couldn't trade Kansas and one of the Detroit games for a couple of 50-100 rpi games to give them some quality wins though.

(12-25-2013 07:40 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  Here's RPI for Toledo's OOC-

6 Kansas

122 Detroit
122 Detroit
131 Arkansas State
150 Cleveland State
163 Boston College
165 Sam Houston St
180 Stony Brook

220 Coppin State
232 Robert Morris

301 Florida A&M
302 Florida Atlantic

This mix will prepare them for conference play. Its too bad they couldn't trade Kansas and one of the Detroit games for a couple of 50-100 rpi games to give them some quality wins though.

That would be nice but hindsight is 20/20. Last season or season before that, some of these teams were a performing at a higher level. Toledo is happy to have more than 4 home games OOC. It seems like we were constantly on the road for the past 5 seasons.