MAC report

SportsLine.com Report
June 14, 2000

A glance at 2001

With just one senior on the roster, Toledo posted its best season in 18 years, rolling to a 19-13 record and a tie for first place in the MAC West.

So things should be looking up for the Rockets, right?

Well, not exactly.

Replacing senior Chad Kamstra, who averaged 13.8 points, will be tough enough, but the loss of guard Justin Hill, who was suspended indefinitely for academic reasons and is not eligible for the 2000-01 season, might set the Rockets back a year. Throw in the losses of sophomore guard Sammy Bacino and freshman guard Javon Clark, both of whom announced their intentions to transfer, and the Rockets aren't as rosy as they had hoped.

The good news is that Greg Stempin is back. The two-time All-MAC forward returns for his senior year and will have to carry the Rockets on his back if they hope to duplicate their efforts of a year ago.

The coach

Stan Joplin enters his fifth season at the helm and is hoping this will be his banner year. After taking the Rockets to the NIT last season, Joplin has three starters back, including leading scorer Stempin.

Who'll be back

Stempin, who averaged 15.7 points, is back, along with 6-4 forward Rob Cullars (8.2 ppg) and 6-11 center Craig Rodgers (5.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg).

Guards Rory Jones and and Nick Moore also return for Toledo.

Who's gone

Kamstra, a 6-1 guard, is the biggest loss for Toledo. Hall's suspension is also a huge blow. The departures of Bacino and Clark shouldn't hurt that much with a solid recruiting class coming in.

Key newcomers

• F Ricardo Thomas (6-7, 215, So.): Transfer from Eastern Kentucky, who started 20 games as a freshman and averaged 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.
• F Robert Sanders (6-6, 200, Fr.): Averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists as a senior at Scott High School in Toledo.
• G Terry Reynolds (5-9, 155, Fr.): Led Maine Central Institure Prep School to a 22-4 record last season while averaging 15 points and four assists.