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Utah Valley's Trey Woodbury (4) shoots over UAB's Javian Davis (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the NIT, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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Utah Valley's Aziz Bandaogo (55) reacts as he walks off the court after losing to UAB in overtime of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the NIT, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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UVU senior guard Trey Woodbury goes up for a slam dunk during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Utah Valley players celebrate with the WAC regular-season title trophy after defeating UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on March 1, 2023.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

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UVU junior Tim Ceaser dunks the ball during the WAC game against Southern Utah at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Feb 11, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU junior guard Le'Tre Darthard is fouled going up for a shot during the WAC game against Southern Utah at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Feb 11, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU junior Le'Tre Darthard (left) and senior Tahj Small walk onto the court wearing the special "Devil Bears" jerseys for the WAC game against New Mexico State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Utah Valley's Aziz Bandaogo (55) rebounds the ball against Seattle U during a men's college basketball game the UCCU Center on Saturday, January 14, 2023.

Courtesy UVU Marketing

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UVU mascot Willy the Wolverine rides onto the court on a motorcycle before the WAC game against Utah Tech at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU sophomore Aziz Bandaogo goes up for a shot during the WAC game against Sam Houston at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU senior Blaze Nield (right) defends BYU guard Rudi Williams during the Wolverine win over the Cougars at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.

Isaac Hale, UVU marketing

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UVU junior Tim Ceaser (2) and senior Tim Fuller attempt to stop a pass during the WAC game against Sam Houston at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

“I thought I could hit it.”

Those might be the six of the best words to define the Utah Valley men’s basketball team in the 2022-23.

They were said by UVU senior guard Trey Woodbury in the postgame press conference Tuesday night when he was asked about his 75-foot heave in the final half-second of Tuesday’s 88-86 NIT semifinal overtime loss to UAB at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

“It just didn’t go in,” Woodbury continued. “I’m just proud of the guys. To the final buzzer, we thought we could win it and we just continued to fight, so I’m just proud of the guys for that.”

Even though the last shot didn’t go in, the Wolverines still gave themselves plenty of chances and again earned the respect of their opponent.

“I think Utah Valley is one of the most dynamic offensive teams we’ve played all season,” Blazer head coach Andy Kennedy said after the game. “They have got multiple guys on the perimeter that can make plays, and that was evident throughout the second half. And they have got two kids inside that are really good at what they do.”

UAB had a chance to get a 3-point lead with a made foul shot but it missed, giving Woodbury his chance to steal away the dramatic win. Kennedy clarified that the plan was to make it so the best UVU could do was tie and force another extra period.

“We were trying to make it because with five-tenths of a second, we have all seen crazy things happen,” Kennedy said. “A 3-pointer beats you. It’s not as if they can run a design play. It’s going to be whoever catches it has to turn and shoot it in less than half a second.”

It ended up working out in favor of the Blazers and not the Wolverines — but the UVU players had experienced that before.

The Wolverines showcased their toughness and grit numerous times during the past five months, whether it was giving Wake Forest everything it could handle in an overtime loss, dominating at BYU, bouncing back from losses in WAC play to get big victories or coming back to make a deep run in the NIT after heartbreak in the WAC semifinals.

This group of talented UVU athletes always believed in themselves.

“This is my favorite team I’ve ever played on,” Woodbury said. These are my favorite guys I’ve ever played with. I’m just extremely grateful for these coaches and these players believing in me and giving me a chance to lead them this year. It was an unbelievable season and run.”

Mark Madsen, in some of his final words as the head coach of the Wolverines before he moved on to take the head coaching position at Cal, spent so much time talking about the players.

“To me, the game is all about the players,” Madsen said. “What you see with Trey Woodbury, the leadership, the leading by example, the vocal aspect of his game, it has been an honor to coach him. It has been a huge impact on this season, on the university. The seniors really set a tone, guys like Tim Fuller and his contributions.

“Then there is (sophomore center Aziz Bandaogo) as a newcomer, to come from Akron but ultimately from Senegal, to learn English as well as he has. He’s a big man who has a point guard mentality. You should hear him in our shoot-arounds. He’s noticing nuances that a lot of players do not notice, and he’s communicating that to the coaches and communicating that to teammates.”

He added that he believes every player in his locker room has a great career ahead of them “on the court and off.”

“I’m incredibly proud of every man in the locker room, every manager, everyone that’s part of our organization,” Madsen said. “This team has great players, players that work. And they

just completed the best basketball season in UVU school history so I want to celebrate the players and the job they have done. We fell a little bit short tonight but just the fight, the energy and the enthusiasm out there was incredible.”

This may have been the end of the line, one game short of their NIT championship game goal, but Woodbury said the Wolverines are walking off the court with no regrets.

“Everybody just fought,” Woodbury said. “That’s why we’re going to keep our heads high and that’s why we are going to remain positive.”

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