TOLEDO, Ohio - Head coach Tod Kowalczyk and his Toledo men's basketball program will get an early start to their 2022-23 season when the Rockets travel to Puerto Rico from August 5-12. The NCAA allows foreign trips to be taken once every four years. Toledo's previous trips were to Greece (2013) and Italy (2017).
 
"This is the third foreign trip we have taken, and we had unbelievable experiences in both Greece and Italy," Kowalczyk said. "We expect our trip to Puerto Rico to be another great experience filled with memories."

The Rockets return four starters – senior Setric Millner Jr., senior JT Shumate, junior RayJ Dennis and sophomore Ra'Heim Moss – as well as junior AJ Edu and sophomores EJ Farmer, Kooper Jacobi and Elijah Wilson.  The Rockets are adding transfers Tyler Cochran, André Lorentsson and Dante Maddox along with freshmen Cooper Davis, Javan Simmons and J Wallace.

"The timing of this trip couldn't be better with getting our transfers and incoming freshmen acclimated as well as getting AJ some game minutes and reps," Kowalczyk said. "It's also going to be good for EJ, Elijah and Kooper to get some valuable experience as well."
 
The Rockets will play in three games while in Puerto Rico in addition to having the opportunity to practice for three weeks leading up to the trip. Kowalczyk said another big advantage for the trip will be his players spending time with and getting to know each other away from the court.
 
"It's going to be a great opportunity for us to get in 10 practices and hopefully play some good teams," Kowalczyk said. "Equally important and maybe the most important thing for our trip will be for our players to bond on a seven-day trip and experience Puerto Rico and its culture."
 
Kowalczyk added that each of the Rockets' foreign trips have been paid for with donations from the annual Rocket Roundball Social.
 
"Our program wouldn't be able to provide our players these great opportunities without the support we receive from our Rocket Roundball Social," Kowalczyk said. "We are extremely appreciative of everything our donors do for us."

Toledo will be looking to become the first Mid-American Conference program to win three straight outright league titles next year since Cincinnati won four in a row from 1948-51. The Rockets posted a 17-3 conference record last season after notching a 15-4 mark in the 2020-21 campaign.