While Wolverine head coach Todd Phillips got some good players to come to Orem, there were times last winter where the lack of team chemistry hurt his team in key moments.

But going into 2024-25, having a solid core of returners is mitigating some of that challenge.

“We have five guys returning,” Phillips said at basketball media day in at TopGolf in Vineyard earlier this week. “Last year we had a redshirt guy and a returner, so we’re excited this year to have five guys returning, with two guys who play significant minutes and two other guys who played good minutes. That’s been a lot more helpful early on. It’s helped the young guys get up to speed and helped the coaches when we are running things. They know how to do those things, so that’s been a lot better this year.”

UVU sophomore forward Osiris Grady said the feel has been different as the Wolverines have worked to prepare for the season.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

“It’s a big difference,” Grady said. “We know where we’re going to want the ball, we know what gets people motivated, what’s going to get them down. That’s really a big thing there, just knowing each other. It’s definitely easier to play with them and we’ll work together. As we sprinkle some guys in who played with each other last year along with the new guys, it’s going to look good.”

One of the most difficult challenges UVU faces is maintaining that team cohesion in an era that is being defined by name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal.

“Some kids today are leaving for significant reasons and others are leaving just to leave, to do something different,” Phillips said. “I think that hurts kids in the long run because the longer you stay at any program, you just get better and better. You understand the system.”

Grady acknowledged that athletes are always considering their options because that is the environment of modern college basketball.

“There are always possibilities,” Grady said. “Towards the end of the season, maybe you might have those thoughts — but once you’re just here, I feel like you just have to focus on just being a part of Utah Valley and just loving your experience. Maybe if things don’t go your way towards the end, you got to do what’s best for you.”

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

He decided that what was best for him at this point in his career was to continue being at UVU and developing under Phillips and his staff.

“Last year being just my freshman year, I didn’t really feel like I was pushed to make a decision to go to another school,” Grady said. “I played good minutes last year and had a solid role on the team. I just feel like that made me better for this year, to be able to have a better year and make more of an impact. I wanted to stay just so I could keep being better here and just make something.”

That’s the mentality Phillips felt like he saw from other returners, guys like sophomore Tanner Toolson, sophomore Trevan Leonhardt and junior Ethan Potter.

“Working with those guys to come back was important,” Phillips said. “I always say the best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores and we’ve got a bunch of those guys. You want to see if they can make the jump from being a role player to being a starter and playing really well.”

He lauded what Grady, Toolson, Leonhardt and Potter have done to improve during the offseason.

Courtesy UVU Athletics

“Osiris Grady is a as a young kid who’s just tapping his potential,” Phillips said. “Now in Year 2 for him as a sophomore, we’re really excited for him to show the steps he’s made as a player. I think you’ll see big jumps from Tanner and Trevan as well. I’m really pleased to see the growth of those guys.

“I think what Ethan Potter did at the end of last year can transfer over to start this year. His work ethic in the summer was a level up for him from where it had been in the past. We’re excited to put him into a spot to do big things.”

UVU also has some intriguing newcomers that Grady thinks will make a big difference as well.

“As we get close to the season starting, we are getting a lot more together,” Grady said. “I like where we are at a lot. We’ve got guys who can do a lot of different things.”

Phillips believes the key to success for the Wolverines is everyone locking in on their specific responsibilities.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

“With this team as we grow, because we do have some good players, guys buying into their roles will be huge,” Phillips said. “We need to figure that out as coaching staff. Our job is to help these guys see on film and see in practice where they all work together and how we’re best together.”

Grady said that anyone who comes to watch UVU play this season should expect to see a squad that plays with tremendous effort.

“We are going to go out there every night and play hard,” Grady said. “You’ll see us fly around on defense and get out in transition. We’ve got a couple guys who dunk it good and you know everybody loves to see that. We’ll be a team that plays hard with a lot of energy.”

The Wolverines will kick off the 2024-25 season when they host Western Colorado at the UCCU Center in Orem on Nov. 4.