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Toledo basketball update: Post-MAC Tourney Thoughts

A couple of days have passed and the pain has subsidized. The anger and frustration is almost gone. For a few minutes you almost forget what happened Friday night.

Remember, just a few.

Toledo's disappointing loss in the MAC semi-finals left a bitter taste in most fans mouths. The Rockets just could not get anything done offensively and Miami simply refused to give up its lead.

With the Redhawks going on and upsetting the Akron Zips to win the MAC conference title, it sort of makes you feel better. Perhaps this was Miami's year to represent the conference.

<Insert rolls eyes>

But in all fairness, Miami deserves to represent the MAC in Washington later this week. After all, they did beat the #1 and #2 ranked team to win the conference on back-to-back nights. Surely, that is no small feat.

The only irritating aspect of the tournament was that it became known early on that only one MAC team would get a bid into the Big Dance. However, many predicted after Saturday night's contest that the conference was guaranteed three bids into the NIT, a glorified opportunity for some teams to continue their season.

But, alas, only the Rockets were selected because they had won the regular season title. East division schools Akron and Kent State got snubbed, thrown aside, stomped on, and booted out simply because they did not play in a "stronger conference."

So, I guess winning the regular season title means something after all.

For the mid-major schools, the goal is to get to the NCAA tournament, especially if it's been 27 years and counting since your last visit. It is an honor, a privilege, and an award many collegiate basketball players will never experience.

Just ask Toledo seniors Florentino Valencia, Justin Ingram, and Keonta Howell.

Friday night these seniors played their hearts out, with Howell somehow suiting up with only one good foot. They yearned for that opportunity to win a MAC championship, to bring that coveted trophy back home to Toledo.

But Charlie Coles' Redhawks had something to say about that.

What bothered me before the game were several comments directed towards Coles with the common one being: "What's so special about him?"

First, he is the dean among MAC coaches with over 16 seasons as a MAC head coach. (Central Michigan and Miami) He is third all-time (MAC) in wins with three trips to the NCAA tournament including a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and three regular season titles.

The guy knows how to win.

Plus, he's a helluva nice guy. Ask anyone who has met Charlie Coles and they will respond along the lines that he is one of the most comfortable people to be around.

As for the conference tournament, Coles had a great game plan heading into the Toledo contest. The Redhawks played solid defense, hit their free-throws, and took care of the basketball. If you do those three things against the Rockets, you have a good chance to beat them.

Now, this is not to say that Coles out-coached Stan Joplin. All the Joplin-haters are now crawling out of their sewer holes to lambaste a guy who has continued to improve this program both on and off the court. They will put the blame of Friday night's loss squarely on the coach's back.

Apparently, they didn't watch the same game I did.

Joplin did not lose this game. Toledo lost because they essentially failed to make one more shot. Their achilles heal all season long has been their erratic shooting. When your team barely shoots over 30% for the year, it's a good probability that it will eventually catch up with them.

One more Toledo three-pointer and we'd have a shot at a conference title Saturday night. It's as simple as that.

The Rockets can hold their head high. Sure, it's disappointing but the season is not over. Tuesday night, Toledo faces a strong Florida State squad in their house on national television.

It will be a tough one.

On the bright side, fans looking ahead to 2007-2008 have to smile. With the return of Jonathon Amos, Kashif Payne, Jerrah Young, Tyrone Kent, Ridley Johnson, and Shane Ross, to go along with some solid recruits, the Rockets will more than likely contend for a West crown and be back in Cleveland come next March.

This is a program that will continually get better. Eventually they will make the NCAA tournament.

And I bet Stan Joplin will still be there when it happens.

MAC basketball by VanDelay Sports