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OREM — It's been quite the recent turnaround for the Utah Valley men's basketball team.
A four-game losing streak that left them flirting with missing the Western Athletic Conference Tournament has given way to a five-game winning streak, with the most recent triumph being Saturday over Stephen F. Austin.
Now, the Wolverines (14-14, 9-8 WAC) will face the UT Arlington Mavericks, coming off a dominant 82-62 win Thursday at Seattle U, with a chance to potentially rise into the top four of the WAC.
Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips called the Mavericks (16-13, 11-7 WAC) the deepest and most talented team they will face in the finale of this 3-game homestand.
Mavericks freshman guard Makaih Williams shoots 44.4% from 3-point range, and guard Phillip Gordon came off the bench to score 20 against Utah Tech Saturday, part of the 30 bench points for UTA overall.
"It'll be a great test for us," Phillips said.
The Wolverines, however, have allowed opponents to shoot just 31.8% from beyond the arc all season, while posting a 43.4% shooting from the field offensively.
That would include freshman forward Osiris Grady, who has shot 56.4% from the field this season and has scored in every game of the winning streak.
"They're going to come in real confident, like us right now," he said about the Mavericks. "They've got 7 guys that could potentially start."
Saturday's game is also Senior Day for Utah Valley, as the Wolverines will honor Trevin Dorius, Jaden McClanahan, and Cache Fields prior to the game.
The Wasatch Academy graduate Grady talked about how huge their leadership has been all season. "They've helped us a lot, especially in locker room and keeping our heads up."
Their leadership has also been helpful for guard Trevan Leonhardt. The Davis graduate, who recently returned from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said how important it's been in his transition to have teammates that are willing to work with him.
"It's about winning the day and getting better," he said. "It's hard and it's a challenge, but it's definitely fun."
Phillips also said Leonhardt's contributions this year has surprised many on the coaching staff.
"He did a great job of getting bigger and stronger, especially coming off his mission," he said. "His basketball knowledge and IQ has been an integral part of what we've been doing this year."
Grady's contributions have been big, too, especially on the defensive end. While the transition to being a Division I basketball player isn't easy, he said Wasatch Academy helped prepare him to be a part of the team and to look to his leaders.
"We always have guys we can talk to, like the seniors," he said. "Whenever we need anything, they're always there to help."
It especially was critical the day following the loss to Tarleton State at home on Feb. 8. Utah Valley gave up a 15-point halftime lead in that gut-wrenching Thursday night defeat, and proceeded to spend the first part of practice in a players-only meeting the next day.
"We basically talked about what was on our minds and talked about how we needed to focus on what was important," Leonhardt said.
While the conversation certainly must not have been an easy one, Grady said it was worth everything when the Wolverines walloped Abilene Christian the following Saturday. In taking all their frustrations out on the Wildcats, he said it proved to be the spark they needed.
"Everyone says you want to be the best towards the end of the season," Grady said. "We're doing the best we can right now at that."
Phillips said the contributions of the seniors are even more evident during practice than in the games themselves. As he was speaking, Jaden McClanahan was putting in extra work playing one-on-one with forward Simon Akena.
He added how the seniors show the younger players the right thing to do, like how Trevin Dorius maintains a positive attitude, no matter the situation. "These seniors have been great examples for the younger guys," he said. "Their leadership will sorely be missed."
However, Phillips said keeping emotions in check will be key Saturday, especially with another large crowd expected to fill the lower bowl for Senior Day.
"We've got to focus on the task at hand," he said. "I trust as we get going, the novelty will wear off."
It'll especially be critical for Grady and Leonhardt — though there's extra motivation on the line for a win.
"We care a lot about the seniors," Leonhardt said. "Once the clock starts going, though, it's game time; we have good enough leaders on this team that can get us there."
Grady took it one step further. "We've just got to keep doing what we're doing and have fun — and we'll probably win."
