The University of Toledo is going to Houston this week to win a basketball game.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of all is simply playing the game.
The Rockets will arrive deep in the heart of Texas having lost three consecutive games to Division I opponents, mostly because of a fictitious defense. Houston, meanwhile, is one of the most aggressive, in-your-face teams in college basketball, ranking in the top five defensively for five straight seasons.
“That’s why we’re going down there,” Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “Obviously, the ultimate goal is to win the game. But big picture, I want our players to learn how they compete for every possession.