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BERKELEY, Calif. — Although Utah Valley University might play an unglamorous style of basketball, the Wolverines’ program has never been in better shape.
Twelfth-year head coach Dick Hunsaker holds his star players and reserves to the same standard, and he isn’t shy in pulling his leading scorer because of a mistake.
Each member is required to leave everything on the floor every day of the season.
And though one of his most decorated senior classes in his decade-plus at the helm in Orem included two of UVU’s three all-time leading scorers – and one of his sons – he never demanded anything less from them.
Holton Hunsaker and Ben Aird, second and third, respectively, in UVU career scoring and all-WAC First-Team selections not only bought into Dick Hunsaker’s coaching philosophies, but actively embodied them.
When they were on the floor, they played within their roles to execute the Wolverines’ motion offense as it was designed. When they spoke to the media, they gave their teammates credit first and foremost.
“Holton and Ben were four-year starters and their contributions will certainly set a standard for the program in the future,” Dick Hunsaker told the media after UVU’s 77-64 NIT first-round loss Wednesday night. “They know how to win and both were able to make big shots throughout their careers.”
The seniors’ performances on the court gave the Wolverines a much earlier-than-expected chance to grab the Western Athletic Conference’s automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.
In their first year competing for a guaranteed spot in March’s big dance, the Wolverines were the WAC regular-season champions and locked up the NIT bid with 13 league wins.
Holton Hunsaker and Aird constantly preached humility to their teammates, despite boasting heroic efforts on the hardwood that pushed a team that lost three rotation players from last season to its full potential.
Both players topped 1,500 career points while donning the green and white, topping NBA guard Ronnie Price and only finishing behind Ryan Toolson, who once scored 63 points in a game at Chicago State.
Prior to exiting the WAC tournament in the semifinals, Holton Hunsaker and Aird contributed to UVU’s record-setting 70.5 percent shooting in an 83-63 quarterfinal win over Texas-Pan American.
The historic afternoon outdid marks achieved by BYU and Utah, who competed in that league from 1984-1999.
Despite falling short of every collegiate basketball player’s goal to play on the big stage in March, and eventually being outmatched against a Cal team that beat NCAA tournament No. 1 seed Arizona, the leaders of the Wolverines can walk away from their final game with their heads held high.
Aird’s 19-point, nine-rebound outing was highlighted by his steal on the perimeter in the first half that he dribbled past a guard and raced past his defender for a dunk.
Hunsaker’s 22-point, five 3-pointer, four-assist night, showed his versatility. He buried deep threes and sacrificed his body on defense to break up passes.
Their legacy will be one of champions. The entire senior class of Keawe Enos, Taylor Brown, Hunsaker and Aird won three regular-season championships – two in the now defunct Great West Conference.
And whatever success is to follow, whatever overlooked athletes walk through the doors of the UCCU Center where they will find the chance to excel, the 2013-14 UVU senior class will be one to thank for laying the foundation.
