For the University of Toledo men's basketball team, losses are stacking up at a rate the Rockets aren't used to in recent years.
During the past two seasons of at least 23 wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19, when the Rockets went on streaks, it was of the winning variety.
Toledo reeled off a 10-game winning streak last year during the non-conference schedule and followed that up with two separate five-game winning streaks during Mid-American Conference play. Two years ago, the Rockets went on a seven-game win streak during MAC play.
This year, it has trended in the opposite direction.
Toledo (11-11, 3-6 MAC) has a five-game losing streak and currently has lost three straight, the first season with two losing streaks of at least three games since the 2016-17 season when Toledo finished 17-17 and 9-9 in the MAC.
Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said while it has been tough on the players and coaches recently, he is impressed with how well his team has stayed together in the midst of some adversity.
“We've gone through a lot of adversity whether it be injuries or some losing streaks,” Kowalczyk said. “These are things that this program has not seen and our players have not seen. But they are together, they are hungry, and they are determined. Our leadership core has been tremendous. We just have to find a way to get healthy and then to win close games.”
For senior forward Willie Jackson the focus right now is maintaining a positive mindset. With core of upperclassmen that include Willie Jackson, Luke Knapke, Marreon Jackson, Spencer Littleson, and Dylan Alderson, Toledo has mature players who realize that there can be ebbs and flows during a basketball season.
“It helps the young guys that we're a lot older as a team,” Willie Jackson said. “We've seen different things. We've lost five in a row. We've won five in a row. We've seen the ups and downs and the stretches of how basketball can work.
“We're just trying to stay together and stay positive. That's the biggest thing right now. You have to stay positive. It's small mistakes. It's stretches in the game that are costing us the game. If we fix that and stay together we'll be good.”
After a loss at Eastern Michigan on Saturday that gave the Eagles their first MAC win, Kowalczyk pointed out none of the breaks seem to be going Toledo's way during the recent slide.
But Kowalczyk knows that can change with a little luck or just players making their own breaks.
“You have to make your own breaks,” Kowalczyk said. “Part of it is luck, but part of it is making your own breaks. That's a big part of basketball is momentum and once you have some momentum, you've got to continue to make your own breaks.”
Whether it has been turnovers, prolonged runs by the opponent, or missed shots, Toledo simply is not finding the winning formula right now. First came the loss to rival Bowling Green, then a blown early 21-point lead against Kent State, and finally a troubling loss at Eastern Michigan.
“It's been a tough stretch,” Kowalczyk said. “I'm not going to lie to you, it's been a tough stretch. We've been right there in every one of those games. We just need to find a way to close out wins. There's been key moments where we either have turnover issues in some of those games or not getting a key stop or not making a play on the offensive end. It's been a combination of those, but during winning time, we need to make winning plays.”
In the MAC this season, which has been characterized by the parity from top to bottom, the difference between winning and losing can be razor thin. A play here or there can change the outcome of a game.
“You always want to make plays and want the plays to go your way, but I just think staying positive and having character and being locked in the whole 40 minutes is what causes you to be successful,” Willie Jackson said.
First Published February 3, 2020, 7:44 p.m.
