Leading the way for Toledo is senior big man Steve Mix.  Mix is the leader of the Rockets and the guy everyone looks up to.  Mix is a good offensive player who can bang the boards or run on the break.  This smooth stroking lefty has a much better overall game than you would expect as he makes his money in the paint but can also hit the open 15 footer. He looks rugged and is but can also play with finesse and is comfortable playing any of the three front court positions.  At six seven and 215 he has to guard too many big centers and that wore him down last season but this hard working kid is not afraid to mix it up down in the paint and this had made him a fan favorite.  This hometown kid is legendary in this town and by far the most popular player on the team.  Mix is also a solid defender who is adept at getting into passing lanes and getting steals when he is playing his more appropriate forward position.  He is a blue collar player who does many things right including hustling and taking good shots.  That is one guy Nichols does not have to worry about but he needs to make sure he can keep him at the four which is his most effective position.   

Mix might have been the most popular Rocket coming back but the best Rocket ever was recently graduated Chuck Chuckovits.  A two time All-American Chuckovits led the team in scoring all 3 years he was here and is the leading scorer in MAC history.  A 6’1 wing he could virtually score from anywhere on the court.  He was protected in the last territorial draft by the local Toledo team (White Huts) so the Toledo fans will get to root for him again.  Don’t worry Mudhen fans this team is in good shape at the two with a kid who might be more talented than even the great Chuckie C!  That kid’s name is Larry Jones and he is more than ready to take over after sitting behind the legend for far too long. This six two athletic guard from Columbus Ohio obviously got looked over by the Buckeyes and plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder especially since he easily could be (or should be) starting somewhere.  Jones is a terrific jump shooter who can hit shot after shot and does not mind taking them up to about 18 feet. If he gets much beyond that than things get a little tricky for this sharpshooter!  Don’t get me wrong Jones is not afraid to shoot from behind the arc, but he just doesn’t hit a large percentage of those shots.  Not that Jones hits a high percentage of any shots (can we say volume shooter) but this 45 percent shooter drops to under 30 from behind the arc.  He has taken second fiddle to the remarkable career that Chuckovits had here but now his time to shine.  

Senior Cal Christensen will start at the 3 once again.  Another hometown kid and yes popular among the fans Christensen goes 6’5 and 210 and can defend.  A gamer who might be the best board guy on the team he has made his living helping on the boards and hitting corner shots.  He does have some issues guarding quicker wings but he is smart and gets the job done.  Nichols wishes he had a bit more offense to his game but will not replace him, at least in the starting lineup.  But if he needs more offense he has that cat waiting in the wings. And he can flat score whether it’s by decision or a TKO!   

As we have said Jones can flat light it up but there is another player on this roster who might even more adept as hoisting up long-range jumpers.  That would be the enigmatic John Brisker. He played the role of super sub last year and did not like backing up Christenson, who is nowhere near the offensive player Brisker is, but he got his fair share of minutes and played well.  That is when he was on the court!  It sometimes looked like the two are in shooting competitions.  They both have no conscious and love to be the guy shooting the ball.  Unfortunately, neither is an accomplished defender though both have the skills.  Jones is made for driving to the hoop and drawing attention.  He is tough and loves the action.  Brisker is a shooter but Jones matched him dog for dog on a few occasions.  Jones also has point guard skills ballhandling but would rather be the guy receiving the pass then giving it.  When these two got going, the Rockets could match up with anyone but that is a bit inconsistent at best.  Brisker also has the reputation of being the baddest guy on the planet. His lack of control sometimes hurt the team but his intensity sure didn’t.  Brisker is a 6’5 210 forward who might be the perfect 3 and we don’t mean the long-range shot.  This Motown kid learned to play in the streets and it shows and he does not back down from anyone.  And we do mean anyone! He can outmuscle less physical players inside but can also take you out the three point line and embarrass you with his high arcing jumper. Of course he also got kicked out of three games last year and is as volatile of a player as there is.  If this team is to get to the Big Dance then Nichols must figure out a way of containing Brisker without killing his competitive fire.  That is no easy task! 

The biggest change to the Rockets last year is when senior Marshall Carlson went down with injury.  Carlson was the starting point guard and formed a potent combo with Chuckovits being one of the best back court duos in the Midwest.  Carlson was a big reason that Chuckovits got so many easy baskets.  A tremendous ball handler Carlson has been setting up his teammates for years but now will try to make a living in another sport.  Golf!  Yep, Carlson is a tremendous golfer and is shooting for the PGA but his departure leaves a pretty green kid running the rocket offense.  His graduation puts a lot of responsibility on Paul Seymour in the backcourt. A leader by nature, Seymour took the Bull by the horns last year.  He also got his teammates the ball so they had to like him.  A solid defender who got a little overmatched against some quick guys, he gets the job done more by will and desire than anything.  But this is a team built to win now and you do not want to be the weakest link on a team like that but Seymour is all about winning and keeping a low profile.  The fans of Toledo will love this tough as nails stud but Nichols is hedging his bets a little on the kid who barely played until midway through his junior year.

The fifth starter for the rockets will be Junior Tom Kozelko.  Kozelko is the perfect complement to the brawn and toughness of the rest of the team.  Kozelko is a long and cerebral player who fit right in at the post alongside Mix.  Kozelko is a lean mean six eight 220 who has a nifty low post game. Kozelko is the best Rocket with his back to the basket and complements Mix well.  Coming out of Traverse City Michigan Kozelko has accepted his role as Mix’s sidekick in crime.  ‘Tom Terrific’ has a nice little baby hook that he takes strong to the hoop and gets more than his fair share of contact. Kozelko is also a good defender who can block a shot and grab a board.  Like Mix he is better suited at the four but will start the year at the 5 and should maintain that role all year unless the ballyhooed 6’11 kid from Lebanon is the next coming of Nate Thurmond.  A lot of these big kids get hyped but most don’t pan out and that will be ok with Kozelko and the fans in Toledo.  They love this cat!  

That ‘is’ a pretty impressive starting five but you got to have depth over the long haul. The Rockets have that too.  And not just Brisker.  And with quantity as well as quality!  Nichols has seniors George Patterson, Bob Gerber, Bob MIller (maybe) and Ray Wolford and juniors Doug Hess, Dick Miller and Jim Swaney plus Sophomores Harvey Knuckles and Ken Epperson at his disposal up front.   The trio of seniors rotated off the bench behind Mix and Kozelko last year with mixed results.  Patterson got the most minutes as he has size at 6’8 230 and this Steeltown kid can board all day. His matchups with those oak trees from rival Bowling Green are the things of legend but Big George does not bring much on the offensive end.  Too bad as he can flat bang in the paint! Wolford is similar in style but brings a bit more offensively.  This hometown kid is a crowd favorite and he was the starter before Kozelko took over but and is not small at 6’6 225.  Still, to hang with the Thurmonds and Shares of the world 6’6 is not going to cut it.  Gerber is almost for sure out of the rotation at 6’4 but fellow senior Bob Aston will be getting a shot and might surprise.  Aston goes 6’8 and can score and board and is more athletic than any of his competitors for the available minutes.  Miller got suspended for missing some classes last year and is in Nichols’s doghouse and might not be on the roster.  He can play but this team is deep up front, just not too big.  Junior Jim Swaney also got some minutes on the post and showed he knows what to do in the paint.  He is way undersized at six seven to hang with the Thurmonds of the MAC but he is smart and competes hard every time he is in the game.  He gave Nichols some toughness and options down low but has some limits.  Fellow junior Dick Miller has been getting some of the minutes behind Mix and Kozelko and did pretty well with a physical style of play. He is really a swing forward that is probably more comfortable at the four but played well with Mix who can also swing down to the three at times. Miller does have a gimp knee and is better suited for limited minutes and might not even get those if the young kids Nichols brought in are up to snuff.  They are definitely bigger than the 6’6 215 Milwaukee product.   The one guy that does have some size is Hess.  He goes 7’0 225 and this Motown is definitely a project.  He has barely played on varsity but he can flat rebound and is learning the ropes or rim protection.  This team needs him to play well this year but he is awful green still.  Epperson is also really a four but was caught playing behind Mix last year.  He did alright swinging out to the wing at least offensively but is nowhere near quick enough to guard athletic wings.   Neither can guard real athletic wings and that is where Knuckles fit in.  Knuckles (ironically his name would have been perfect for Brisker) barely played last year except on JV where he was a star.  Knuckles goes 6’6 and 185 (sounds like a fighter announcement-where is Michael Buffer when you need him) is a terrific athlete who can fill the lane.  He can also defend other six foot six wings who can fly through the air which is becoming much more common place even in the MAC.  He might not get much of a chance this year and he might not be Brisker on the talent level but Knuckles is there in case something happens in front of him. 

Seniors Phil Martin and Jim Ray have had solid careers coming off the bench for the Rockets but neither has (and probably will) ever broached the starting lineup.  If they wanted to get into the starting five their best bet is playing the one.  Neither is a point guard and are once again going to be stuck behind talented starts. After all they are not beating out Jones, Christensen or Brisker so there are not many minutes left.  Both can flat shoot and in today’s modern game that is a preumium so Nichols will find them some minutes.  Senior John Rudley is a true point guard and might push Seymour.  He is not really the athletic type but this Michigan kid a prep legend.  Rudley is one heck of a passer who is great as setting up teammates. He led his high school team in Benton Harbor to a state title and is a heck of a leader on and off the court.  He has had some issues with Nichols and missed some time last year but will have a chance to play.  How much depends on the new recruits.  Right now he is insurance for Seymour.  Juniors Larry Cole and Stan Joplin were also in the running for roles off the bench.  Cole is more of a two guard but can handle the ball.   Joplin is another swing guard and like Seymour is a coach on the floor.  Joplin did not even start on JV (Cole did) but he has ice in his veins, he hit the game winner to get Toledo the national JV tourney) but might not even make the roster with this much talent in front of him.  If he does not do not be surprised if he is sitting next to Nichols on the bench as this cerebral kid wants to be a coach someday.  

The Toledo Mudhens er Rockets (sorry Klinger) are one of the favorites to win the MAC this season.  Coach Bob Nichols has a roster full of talent and even with superstar Chuck Chuckovits moving onto the big time there is enough here to win this league.  The Achilles heel for this program has always been their lack of height especially when compared to hated rival Bowling Green.  After all Coach Harold Anderson who built this program here jumped ship a few years back to be able to coach the likes of Don Otten, Nate Thurmond and Chuck Share. Can’t blame him though as coaching three 6’11 guys makes life a whole heck of a lot easier!  The Rockets front line goes 6’8, 6’7 and their top sub is 6’6 so keeping up with the Andersons is not going to be easy.  They have brought in their own 6’11 kid to match up but he is a project and might not get on the court much this year.  Still, this team can score in ‘buckets’ and has a pair of seniors who have been biting at the bit to show their goods in the starting lineup for years.  Nichols will try to get these Rockets off the ground and running but the challenge is to keep them grounded all at the same time!