There are some key new faces who have joined the Wolverines, with 7-foot sophomore center Aziz Bandaogo (a transfer from Akron) likely being the most noticeable.

But arguably the guy who is most likely to take more of the spotlight than he did in 2021-22 is one who has been in Orem since before the 2019 season.

That’s because UVU senior guard Trey Woodbury said he is “100%” and ready to get back to playing at a high level for the Wolverines.

“I’m trying to have a great last season,” Woodbury said. “I would love to make the tournament. I also want to be in the best shape and form I can be for my pro career.”

Woodbury was a huge part of UVU’s run to the WAC regular season title in 2020-21, as he led the team in scoring at 15.6 points per game and minutes played at 32 per contest. He also averaged four rebounds and nearly a steal a game.

But a devastating knee injury sidelined the Wolverine star for almost the entire 2021-22 season, forcing him to work hard to get back.

“It was a long journey,” Woodbury said. “I played at the end of the season last year but I wouldn’t say I was 100%. After that, I shut it down for another month or two and just really let it heal. Then I started hitting hard for the last several months. I feel like I’m getting back in shape and getting my rhythm.”

He said that getting back for a couple of games in the 2022 WAC tournament was good for him, although it wasn’t actually something he planned on.

“It built a lot of confidence in myself,” Woodbury said. “I hadn’t picked up a basketball for months and then I was like, you know what, I’m going to play. And I played decent enough that it built a lot of confidence in the work that I put in. Even sitting out that long, I could still be of value and contribute to help the team.”

Those moments, however, were offset by some setbacks as he went through the process of getting where he needed to be mentally and physically.

“It was frustrating a little bit,” Woodbury said. “My mind was telling me to do things I normally do while my body was telling me no. That was hard to overcome for awhile. Then you hit a point where you are over that hill and you are on the other side. That starts to feel really good.”

Madsen loves to hear the UVU senior say that and see him get back to being the player he is capable of being, since the Wolverine head coach sees Woodbury being a huge asset this season.

“Trey Woodbury is a winner,” Madsen said. “He can impact the game in so many ways. He’s a brilliant passer, a great scorer, and he is a strong leader. He has been a huge part of the success we’ve had here. I know his teammates are happy that he is back and that the rehabilitation was a complete success.”

UVU junior guard Justin Harmon said that having Woodbury return should have a tremendous impact on what the team accomplishes.

“Trey is a very key player that we missed last year,” Harmon said. “Having him back is a weight off of my shoulders because he is a playmaker, a scorer and a leader all in one. It’s crazy. Trey is a good player. People may not know that but they are going to find out this year.”

Woodbury said he hopes to be part of a Wolverine squad that exceeds all expectations on the hardwood.

“This is the most talented team that I’ve been on at UVU, so I think we would win the WAC,” Woodbury said. “That’s not a crazy expectation for the amount of talent that we have. We are deeper at every position. We have a ton of experience.”

Madsen loves having a deep roster but said that means every player is going to need to sacrifice for the good of the team.

“I tell them that in a perfect world we could play all 17 guys on our roster 40 minutes per night,” Madsen said. “But that’s impossible. Our rotation will be somewhere between eight and 11 players, depending on matchups and on fatigue. That means some players will have nights where they won’t play, but that’s OK because they are still helping contribute to team winning and atmosphere. But I have been very clear that throughout the season, every player will have an opportunity.”

The Wolverines start the 2022-23 season on Nov. 7 when they play at Utah State.

“We’re excited,” Madsen said. “The players have had a tremendous summer. A lot of them have been here since May working on their own before practice started formally in late June. I can’t say enough about our players and all the work they do in the classroom, in the community and on the basketball court. I feel good about our team, in the sense that we are going to compete hard for every game. We’re really looking forward to the season.”

UVU junior guard Trey Woodbury (right) attempts to block a shot during the 96-78 loss at St. John’s in New York on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021.