Michigan hoops to host Toledo on Wednesday; makes up for canceled N.C. State game

It didn't take long for the Wolverines to find a new opponent for Wednesday night.

Michigan will host Toledo at Crisler Center in place of its previously scheduled game against North Carolina State. The programs on Tuesday morning announced the matchup, which will tip off at 6 p.m. and be broadcast on FS1.

The Wolverines were supposed to host N.C. State, as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, in their fifth and final nonconference game on Wednesday, but that matchup was postponed on Monday because of COVID-related concerns within the Wolfpack program. N.C. State had to cancel its game on Saturday against Connecticut after a member of its traveling party tested positive for COVID-19.

The postponement left Michigan with two options: make up the game with N.C. State at a later date — something both programs said they would try to do — or find a replacement. The Wolverines chose the latter path and quickly added a regional opponent.

More: Chaundee Brown, newcomer in a new role, making most of his shot at Michigan

The deal with Toledo was in the works throughout the day Monday, with money and testing the last hurdles before finalizing the agreement.

By playing Toledo, the N.C. State contest is unlikely to be rescheduled. Since the Wolverines haven’t participated in a multi-team event, they can only play in a maximum of 25 regular-season games under the NCAA’s scheduling rules — five nonconference games to go along with the 20-game Big Ten slate. Toledo will also have to cancel a future game to avoid going over the limit.

“Now that we are in this pandemic and with everything that we have going on as a country, being able to play sports is a blessing,” coach Juwan Howard said Monday night on the “Inside Michigan Basketball” radio show.

“Our players have done an amazing job of sacrificing to make this all work. I’ve also got to give a lot of credit to (athletic director) Warde Manuel, (Big Ten commissioner) Kevin Warren, President (Mark) Schlissel and others that have been involved. Then there are a lot people I did not mention, like people in the front lines who are making sure that we are doing it in a safe and healthy way.”

In the Mid-American Conference preseason coaches poll, the Rockets (3-2) were picked to finish sixth in the 12-team league. They won their MAC opener against Eastern Michigan, 91-74, on Friday and are currently the highest-rated MAC team by KenPom.com (ranked No. 102 nationally).

Michigan has already beat two MAC teams during its 4-0 start: preseason favorite Bowling Green, 96-82, in the opener and Ball State, 84-65, last week.

Toledo also has wins over Oakland and Cleveland State and one-possession losses to Bradley and Xavier. The Rockets blasted the Golden Grizzlies by 27 points at a neutral site on Nov. 26, three days before Wolverines beat them by 10 points in overtime at home.

The Rockets’ roster features a pair of local standouts in freshman guard Ryan Rollins (Macomb Dakota) and senior guard Spencer Littleson (Rochester Adams), who are averaging 15 points and 12.8 points, respectively.

Wednesday’s encounter will be the 22nd all-time meeting between the teams and first since 1983. It will also be Michigan’s final tune-up before it opens conference play Sunday at home against Penn State.

“Game by game, you don't know if you're going to play or not because you're fighting this virus,” Howard said. “We've been fortunate enough so far where we've been able to play our first four games of the season, but we take it game by game. That's how I'm approaching it.” 

Toledo at Michigan

Tip-off: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Crisler Center, Ann Arbor

TV/radio: FS1/950

Records: Toledo 3-2, Michigan 4-0

Outlook: Toledo ranks ninth in the nation in made 3-pointers (56) and 30th in 3-point shooting percentage (40.9%). Senior guard Marreon Jackson (16 points, 5.6 assists) headlines four double-digit scorers for the Rockets…Michigan’s average margin of victory is 16.3 points.

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @jamesbhawkins