Men's Basketball Hosts Ohio University Tonight At Savage Hall
1/31/2001 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Jan. 31, 2001
TOLEDO, OH - The road isn't getting any easier for Toledo.
Looking to snap their season-high four-game losing streak, the Rockets (12-7, 4-4 MAC) will host Ohio (11-6, 6-2 MAC) tonight.
It's the first of back-to-back games at Savage Hall for Toledo against the top two teams in the MAC's East Division. UT will also battle first-place Kent State (14-6, 7-2 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Since opening the MAC season with four straight wins, the Rockets have lost four in a row to Ball State (52-51), Northern Illinois (69-67), Central Michigan (71-61) and Marshall (72-57).
In its current four-game losing streak, Toledo is shooting just 35.5 percent (83-of-234), including 12-of-83 (14.5 percent) from three-point range.
In the Rockets' 72-57 loss at Marshall on Monday, the Thundering Herd took control of the game midway through the first half and never looked back. Senior Greg Stempin paced the Rockets with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Stempin leads UT in points (16.7 ppg) and rebounds (7.8 rpg), while freshman guard Terry Reynolds ranks second in points (14.2) and is first in assists (5.0 apg) and steals (1.6 spg).
Sophomore Brandon Hunter paces the Bobcats in both points (16.4 ppg) and rebounds (9.5 rpg), while junior Patrick Flomo leads the MAC and ranks sixth nationally in blocked shots (3.82 bpg).
Stempin Aiming for MAC Player of the Year Honors
Senior All-America candidate Greg Stempin is shooting to become the Rockets' first MAC Player of the Year since Harvey Knuckles in 1981. He also is looking to become the fourth Rocket ever to earn first-team All-MAC honors on three occasions.
The other UT players to receive All-MAC accolades three times are Tom Kozelko (1971-73), Steve Mix (1967-69) and Phil Martin (1952-54).
Stempin ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring (16.7 ppg), seventh in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and is 10th in FG% (.461). He is averaging 9.4 rebounds per game in UT's last seven contests, but has been limited to 12.2 ppg and a 33.3 FG% during UT's current four-game losing streak.
The Stempin Watch
Senior Greg Stempin is in seventh place on UT's all-time scoring list and is 71 points away from moving ahead of Harvey Knuckles (1977-81) into sixth place.
Following is a list of the Rockets' all-time scoring leaders:
1. Ken Epperson (1981-85) 2,016
2. Craig Thames (1992-96) 1,964
3. Steve Mix (1966-69) 1,676
4. Tom Kozelko (1970-73) 1,561
5. Casey Shaw (1994-98) 1,502
6. Harvey Knuckles (1977-81) 1,488
7. Greg Stempin (1997-pres.) 1,418
8. Ted Williams (1974-78) 1,355
9. Larry Cole (1973-76) 1,352
10. Jim Swaney (1976-80) 1,328
Stempin Drawing Praises
Miami Head Coach Charlie Coles had this say about Greg Stempin following UT's win over the RedHawks on Jan. 3:
"He's (Stempin) a great player. I've seen him for four years now. He's the same as (Wally) Szczerbiak and (Dan) Majerle were. I recruited him so hard. We've had some success, but I feel the success we would of had with him would be ongoing. I just dreamed of him and Szczerbiak playing on the same floor. That would have been a delight. I told him that if you come to Miami, we'll be in the Final Four." Jones Asserting Himself Off the Bench
Senior guard Rory Jones has been the Rockets' top contributor off the bench this season, averaging 6.9 points per game in 17.2 minutes of action.
He has emerged offensively since the start of the MAC season, ranking first on the team in field goal percentage in both overall (56.6 percent) and conference (63.6 percent) play. He ranks third on the team in MAC scoring (10.5 ppg) and has scored in double figures in five of eight MAC games.
In the Rockets' first three MAC games, Jones registered a career-high point total in each game. He scored 12 vs. Miami, 14 at Western Michigan and 16 at Eastern Michigan.
Reynolds Key to Rockets' Attack
Freshman guard Terry Reynolds has proven how valuable he can be to the Rockets' offense this year. When looking at his production during UT's wins and losses, it shows even further how his play is a key ingredient to the Rockets' success.
In UT's 12 wins this year, he is averaging 16.2 points per game and shooting 45.6 percent from the field. In the Rockets' seven losses, he has been held to 10.7 points and a 29.3 field-goal percentage.
For the season, Reynolds leads all MAC freshmen with 14.2 points per game which ranks second on the team. He leads the team in assists (5.0 apg) and steals (1.6 spg). The 5-9 guard ranks third in the MAC in assists, fourth in steals and is 17th in points per game.
He burst upon the college basketball scene in UT's season-opening weekend when he earned all-tournament team honors at the Energia Systems Thanksgiving Tournament in Kansas City.
In the Rockets' 95-90 win over Auburn in the semifinals, he tallied a game-high 36 points and seven assists. He scored 13 of UT's 21 points in the two overtimes and came up with a key steal late in the second overtime with UT holding a one-point lead.
Reynolds' 36-point outburst was the most by a Rocket since Craig Thames tallied 37 in a 103-102 (2OT) victory over Central Michigan on Feb. 28, 1996.
Moore Looks to Regain Hot Hand From Three-point Range
Sophomore guard Nick Moore is looking to regain the shooting form which made him one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the MAC.
The 6-1 Detroit native made 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) three-point attempts in his first four MAC games, but has converted only 3-of-21 (14.3 percent) from behind the arc in UT's four-game losing streak.
Moore still leads UT with a 41.2 (42 of 102) three-point FG% (5th in MAC) and also is first in three-point field goals made with 2.2 per game (T-4th in MAC). In MAC games, he is fourth in team scoring with 9.5 ppg.
Earlier this season, Moore nailed all six of his three-point attempts against George Mason to equal a school record for three-point FG% set by Fred King at Kent State on Jan. 23, 1988.
Rocket Three-Point News
*The Rockets have four primary three-point shooting threats. In addition to the previously mentioned Nick Moore, Terry Reynolds (33.7 percent, 34-for-101), Greg Stempin (31.2 percent, 30-for-91), Robierre Cullars (29.5 percent, 18-for-61) are UT's other top shooting threats from three-point range.
* In the Rockets' four-game losing streak, Cullars (1-for-13), Moore (3-for-21) and Stempin (1-for-20) are a shooting a combined 9.2 percent (5-for-54) from beyond the arc.
* Prior to their four-game losing streak, the Rockets were shooting 40.2 percent from three-point land. After shooting only 14.5 percent in their last four games, UT's season mark has dropped to 31.4 percent.
* As a team, UT is third in the MAC in three-point field goals made per game (7.0) and sev enth in three-point FG% (34.6 percent). UT is second in three-point FG% defense (31.6 percent).
* UT sank its first nine three-point shots against George Mason on Dec. 2 en route to a 10-for-12 first-half shooting performance from behind the arc.
Moore Nearing Free Throw Mark
Sophomore guard Nick Moore is two free throws away from tying the UT record for most consecutive free throws made. Tim Selgo connected on 27 free throw in a row during the 1978-79 campaign.
After missing his first two free throws of the season vs. Oakland, Moore has made 25 straight free throws and is shooting 92.6 percent from the line.
Protecting the Homecourt
After losing its last two home games, UT will look to get back on the winning track at Savage Hall when it hosts Ohio on Wednesday.
The Rockets are 5-3 at home this year and hold a 48-15 (.762) record at Savage Hall under Stan Joplin, including a 37-11 (.771) mark since the start of the 1997-98 season. In MAC games under Joplin, the Rockets have posted a 27-13 (.675) ledger at Savage Hall.
Trips to the Line A Common Occurrence
With its strong inside game and the penetration of guard Terry Reynolds, the Rockets are averaging 26.8 free throw attempts per game compared to 16.9 for their opponents. Toledo has been whistled for 17.6 personal fouls per contest, while its opponents have committed 22.7.
The Rockets have made six more free throws (327) than their opponents have attempted (321) this year.
Defense Looking to Get Back on Track
In addition to being in a shooting slump over their last four games, the Rockets' defense also has struggled in their last two contests. Central Michigan (62.5 percent) and Marshall (53.7 percent) both shot over 50 percent from the field, only the third and fourth teams to accomplish that vs. UT this season.
The Rockets have held nine opponents under 43.1 percent shooting, but has held just one opponent under this mark in their last six games.
Rocket Attendance Second in the MAC
Toledo enjoyed its largest attendance (8,495) of the season on Saturday, Jan. 13 vs. Bowling Green. The Rockets are averaging 6,011 fans this season and trail only Ohio (7,083) in MAC attendance.
UT's current attendance average is the highest during Stan Joplin's tenure as the Rockets' head coach. Last year's mark of 5,799 was the best season average since the 1995-96 campaign.
Taking on All Comers
Each of UT's eight non-conference victories came against a team from a different conference. The Rockets faced schools from nine different conferences in their non-conference schedule.
UT defeated teams from the Colonial Athletic (George Mason), Conference USA (Cincinnati), Mid-Continent (Oakland), Midwestern Collegiate (Detroit), Missouri Valley (Creighton), Ohio Valley (SE Missouri State). SEC (Auburn) and Trans-America Athletic (Samford). The Rockets' three losses occurred against teams from the WAC (Fresno State) and Atlantic 10 (St. Bonaventure, Xavier).
Joplin Ranks Fifth on UT's All-Time Win List
Head Coach Stan Joplin is in fifth place on UT's all-time coaching win list. Joplin has 77 wins during his five-year tenure at the Rocket helm. Following is a list of the top five career coaching win totals in Rocket history: UT's All-Time Coaches' Win List
1. Bob Nichols (1965-87) 376
2. Harold Anderson (1934-42) 142
3. Jerry Bush (1947-54) 127
4. Eddie Melvin (1954-65) 125
5. Stan Joplin (1996-pres.) 77
Tough Stretch For Rockets
The Rockets are in the midst of a challenging five-game stretch. UT is playing five straight games vs. teams with above .500 records in MAC play.
UT faced Central Michigan (13-4, 7-1 MAC) on Jan. 24 and Marshall (13-5, 7-3 MAC) on Jan. 29. The Rockets will meet Ohio (11-6, 6-2 MAC) tonight, Kent State (14-6, 7-2 MAC) on Feb. 3 and Akron (8-9, 5-3 MAC) on Feb. 7.
Rockets' Schedule Packed With NCAA Tournament Teams
The Rockets have posted a 5-2 win-loss mark this year vs. 2000 NCAA Tournament teams. UT has defeated Auburn, Cincinnati, Creighton, Samford and Southeast Missouri State, and lost to Fresno State and St. Bonaventure.
Up Next ... Kent State
Toledo will meet the leaders of the MAC's East Division, Kent State (14-6, 7-2 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Savage Hall.
The Golden Flashes will be looking to rebound from a 76-71 setback at Ball State last night, a defeat which snapped a season-high five-game winning streak.
The Rockets have defeated KSU in each of their last two meetings, including a 65-52 road win last year.
