College Basketball Preview: Toledo Men's and Women's teams

11/3/2013

Exhibition

Women

Ashland at Toledo

■ Time: 1 p.m.

■ Records (2012-13): Ashland 37-1; UT 29-4

■ Notes: Ashland won the Division II national championship last season, defeating Dowling 71-56 in the title game. ... The Eagles were never ranked lower than third all season and opened the year with an exhibition win against Dayton, which dealt Toledo one of its four losses. ... AU returns six letter-winners from last year and two starters who were in double-figure scorers Taylor Woods (12.3 points, 3.7 assists) and Alyssa Miller (10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds). ... Gone are the team’s two leading scorers, GLIAC player of the year Kari Daugherty (22.3 points) and Dalva Gerbec (14.7 points). ... Central Catholic’s Jamie Sobczak is a sophomore guard for Ashland. She transferred from Wheeling Jesuit, where she started 22 games. ... Former Rocket assistant Robyn Fralick (2007-08) holds the same position at Ashland. ... UT is retooling from the graduation of a decorated five-person senior class. The Rockets, who return All-MAC players Andola Dortch and Inma Zanoguera, are picked to finish third in the West division.

Men

Hillsdale at Toledo

■ Time: 3:30 p.m.

■ Records (2012-13) Hillsdale 17-10; UT 15-13

■ Notes: Hillsdale, a Division II school, could provide an early test. The Chargers were 17-10 last year and finished second in the GLIAC’s South division. ... HC is coming off a competitive exhibition loss last weekend at Valparaiso. The Chargers led by five at the half before falling 69-60. ... Six-foot-7 forward Kyle Cooper scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting, and 6-6 forward Tim Dezelski added 16 points and nine boards. ... UT plays just one exhibition before opening the season Saturday at home against Northwestern Ohio. ... The Rockets are a near-unanimous pick to win the MAC West, garnering 24 of 25 first-place votes in the league’s preseason poll. ... Of interest is who UT will start at power forward. The preseason battle included returning starter Matt Smith, transfer J.D. Weatherspoon, and redshirt freshman Aubrey Williams.