MBB: Utah Valley Wolverines 2024-25 Team Preview
Todd Phillips led Utah Valley to 16 wins in his first year as head coach. What will he do with a more talented roster in 2024-25?
Utah Valley is the only school in Division I to make the jump straight from the junior college ranks to the highest level of collegiate athletics.
That took place in 2003-24. Dick Hunsaker was the head coach, leading the Wolverines to a 23-5 record in their first season in the big leagues.
Since that time, Utah Valley has had just three head coaches following Hunsaker’s retirement following the 2014-15 season.
Mark Pope, Mark Madsen, and currently Todd Phillips.
In his first season at Utah Valley, Mark Pope led the Wolverines to a 12-18 record in 2015-16. In his first season at Utah Valley, Mark Madsen led Utah Valley to an 11-19 record in 2019-20.
In his first season as head coach, Todd Phillips led Utah Valley to a 16-16 record.
Yep, Todd Phillips won more games in his first season as head coach than either of his two predecessors.
Can the Wolverines increase the win total in 2024-25 similar to what Wolverine teams did under Pope and Madsen in year two?
With a group of new faces mixed with some key returners, Phillips has pieces in place to do just that.
Let’s take a look at the Wolverines.
Head Coach:
Todd Phillips, 2nd season (16-16 overall, 11-9 WAC)
Overall Record: 221-74
2023-24:
Finished 16-16 overall, 11-9 in WAC
Lost in first round of WAC Tournament
Key Losses:
Jaden McClanahan - Eligibility
Drake Allen - Transferred to Utah State
Caleb Stone-Carrawell - Transferred to Loyola Marymount
Trevin Dorius - Eligibility
K’Mani Doughty - Transferred to Indiana State
Nate Tshimanga - Transferred to New Mexico State
Key Returners:
Ethan Potter
Tanner Toolson
Osiris Grady
Trevan Leonhardt
Jackson Holcombe
Newcomers:
Dominick Nelson - JUCO
Andre Johnson Jr. - UConn
Kylin Green - JUCO
Noah Taitz - Loyola Marymount
Hayden Welling - UC Irvine
Carter Welling - UC Irvine
Cory Wells - NAIA
Majer Sullivan - JUCO
There isn’t a ton of size in the green and white. Carter Welling stands at 6’10 and is the tallest player on the Utah Valley roster. That is a bit different than in past years. The Wolverines have had big men like Fardaws Aimaq, Evan Cole, Aziz Bandaogo, and Trevan Dorius.
So, it will be interesting to see what type of basketball the Wolverines play in 2024-25.
Todd Phillips feels they addressed a concern with the 3-point shooting. But, the bigger question is how will the newcomers to the Division I ranks handle things?
Kylin Green and Dominick Nelson are names to keep in mind throughout the season. Osiris Grady and Tanner Toolson are back and Todd Phillips says both put on some muscle in the offseason.
But, like last year, when the Wolverines went on a run late in the season, Ethan Potter may be the key to success for the Wolverines.
Projected Starting Lineup:
G - Kylin Green
G - Tanner Toolson
G - Dominick Nelson
F - Ethan Potter
C - Carter Welling
Kylin Green and Dominick Nelson are going to be interchangeable at the point guard position. Nelson averaged 20-plus points per game at the JUCO level last season while Green averaged just over 13 points. But, their ability to shoot from the perimeter while attacking off the dribble could be a huge boost to the Wolverines in 2024-25.
Tanner Toolson started 31 of 32 games for the Wolverines in 2023-24, and will be a mainstay in the starting lineup. Toolson’s ability to knock down perimeter shots plus his explosiveness is something Todd Phillips loves.
Ethan Potter and Carter Welling will lock down the paint, and provide an offensive presence to take some pressure off the guard line.
Scheduling News:
As everyone knows, scheduling for mid-majors that aren’t either a Q1 game or a bad Q4 game is challenging
Utah Valley opens up with a non-Division I on Nov. 4 before hosting UTEP on Nov. 9 as part of the WAC/CUSA Scheduling Alliance.
But then, the Wolverines go on the road for nearly a month. In fact, the Wolverines will go coast-to-coast to start December. Utah Valley plays at Stanford on Dec. 3 and four days later plays at James Madison.
Utah Valley has just four home non-conference games. The two to start the season, then North Dakota on Dec. 11 as part of a home-and-home with the Fighting Hawks, and the Wolverines finish up the home non-conference slate with a non-Division I on Dec. 28.
Outlook:
Can the Wolverines knock down shots from the perimeter? That was a big issue in 2023-24. So, can the Wolverines be more efficient from 3-point range?
The schedule is not favorable…at least not in the non-conference slate. However, for a team in a one-bid league, it is all about getting prepared for league play and a few days in March.
First, Utah Valley will be battle tested. And road tested, as well.
UTEP, Weber State, North Dakota, James Madison, Jacksonville State, Idaho State, Murray State, and Samford are quality mid-major opponents, all with different playing styles.
That is key to experience prior to WAC play because the WAC is made up of different playing styles. Plus, you get the vibe of a couple of rivalry games with Weber State and Idaho State to prepare for Utah Tech and Southern Utah.
Simply put, though, it will all come down to how well the Wolverines shoot from the perimeter.
If Utah Valley can knock down shots from 3-point range, the Wolverines will give teams fits in 2024-25.