The college basketball offseason is here, and we decided to have some fun over the next few months, ranking ALL 364 teams in D1. Number 144 is Toledo basketball.
Before you say we’re crazy – or that all of this is up for debate, let’s go over the very intricate process of how we came to this conclusion. We took a very statistical approach – with the help of Chat GPT – taking into consideration everything from March Madness wins and finishes, to AP Poll appearances, to conference players of the year. And then, a good friend of ours, Scott Blanchard, took our approach to the MAX.
Click here to visit the FIRST article, which explains how the formula works!
Here’s the breakdown of Toledo basketball!
NCAA Tournament Success
- Championships: 0
- Finals appearances: 0
- Final Fours: 0
- Elite Eights: 0
- Sweet 16s: 1
- NCAA wins: 1
- Bids: 4
Consistency Over Time
- Wins per season: 14.4
- Bids per season: 0.04
- AP Polls: 22
Player Quality & Talent
- All-Americans: 0
- NBA players drafted & played: 10
- Conference Players of the Year: 8
Conference & Other Success
- Conference regular season titles: 16
- Conference tournament titles: 1
- NIT titles: 0
- Other tournament titles: 0
Overall scoop on Toledo basketball
Toledo basketball is another program that has burst onto the scene in the past decade plus. Tod Kowalczyk got the job in 2010, going just 4-28 in his first season. It was a program coming off another four-win season and trending downward. But since then, Kowalczyk’s Toledo teams have never again had a losing season and have put together eight 20-win campaigns. While they unfortunately haven’t made it to the NCAA Tournament in this span, they’ve won MAC regular season titles in 2014, 2018 (Division), 2019 (Division), 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. They’ve arguably been the best overall program in the MAC over the last decade, but it just hasn’t turned into postseason success.
Unfortunately, missing out on March has long been Toledo’s identity. Stan Joplin was the coach from 1996 to 2008 and went 202-156. He also led them to MAC titles in the regular season in 1999 (Division), 2000 (Division), 2005 (Division), and 2007.
There was a time, however, when Toledo’s play was rewarded in postseason spots. Bob Nichols was a legendary coach for the Rockets from 1965 until 1987. He led them dancing in 1967, 1979, and 1980, and won nearly 400 games with the team. The ’79 NCAA Tournament squad earned a 5-seed and took down 4-seed Iowa, claiming their first and only Sweet 16 appearance.
Toledo’s other tourney bid came way back in 1954, representing the MAC in one of the first years it was a conference.
Toledo has had very notable coaches besides the ones already mentioned. From 1935-42, Harold Anderson went 142-41 with the program. Jerry Bush went 127-58 from 1948-54. Toledo’s winning ways are well documented, with over 1,600 career wins placing them in the top 75 all-time. Unfortunately, they also have one of the longest streaks of not making March Madness, since 1980. But the rest of the program’s history has been a lot to love. They deserve a bid like few others!