Rockets Open Season at Florida

This Friday the Toledo Rockets open the 2008-09 men's basketball season when the Rockets face the Florida Gators on ESPNU. The game will mark the beginning of the Gene Cross era.

Florida is ranked 19th in the country in the preseason polls. The Gators will be a very strong test for the Rockets, who are very young and also hit with some injuries.

Toledo defeated St Edward's (TX) in their exhibition game Sunday night, 63-56. Senior guard Tyrone Kent led the way for Toledo, scoring a game high 27 points and also grabbing 8 rebounds. The only other Rocket in double figures was senior guard Anthony Byrd, who scored 13 points.

Junior Ridley Johnson is joined by freshmen Zac Taylor, Stephen Albrecht, and Emeka Okafor with injuries. Okafor might be able to play against Florida, but Johnson, Taylor, and Albrecht will all be out for a while.

Freshman Larry Bastfield is the lone true point guard that saw action Saturday night against St Edward's, coming off the bench, and he should see a lot of time at point guard for Toledo against the Gators.

It will be the first ever meeting between Toledo and Florida in men's basketball. The Rocket football team will make their first appearace against the Florida Gators football team in the future as well, with a game scheduled to be played at Florida in 2013.

On top of ESPNU televising the basketball game live this Friday night at 6:00pm, WSPD will have the game live on the radio.

After Florida, the Rockets will turnaround quickly and play at Xavier next Monday. That game is scheduled for a 7:30pm tip-off and will air on Fox Sports Ohio.