TORONTO – Since the end of last season, staying solid has been the biggest focus for Head Coach David DeAveiro and the rest of the men's basketball program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). 

DeAveiro–who embarks on his fourth season with the Bold in North Bay on Friday–watched tentatively as the philosophy he hoped would become a cornerstone of his team, one rooted in creating work habits of success and infection, started to yield results in the weeks leading up to his highly-anticipated campaign. 

To DeAveiro, the defensive area of the court was where this mindset needed to shine the most heading into the fall. The Bold surrendered on average 75 points to their competition last season and ranked sixth in the conference in that category. 

The goal for 2024-25 was to cut that average down by 15, a feat that if successful at the right times last season, would have awarded the Bold a slew of different outcomes and at the very least, a playoff win against the McMaster Marauders to extend the expiration date on their season. 

With preseason play wrapping up last weekend, the Bold were able to hold six of their nine opponents to 65 points or less, coming out on top in all but one of those tune-ups. 

"There was really a big emphasis coming into the season about being better defensively, being amongst the best teams in the country," said DeAveiro. 

"If we are solid defensively we have a chance to be successful in every single game."

Now, the team looks to take the successes of their solid approach and apply it to all areas of the court to create a winning culture throughout the regular season and beyond. 

"This year, it's just one unit, one moving machine that will get us to a championship," said fourth-year Elijah Roye ahead of his senior season with the Bold. 

Roye's last dance with the blue and gold will be accompanied by Jahcobi Neath, Aidan Wilson and Aaron Rhooms. The four look to spend their final respective seasons with the Bold flexing their leadership strengths to help mold the team's six first-year players into memorable OUA talents on and off the court. 

Rhooms, being a 2021 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, understands the process behind making an ever-lasting first impression with a university club. Having blasted onto the scene for the Bold in 2021, the now fourth-year has his eyes set on leading the youthful injection in 2024 while also keeping his focus on reaching the summit of OUA basketball for the first time in his decorated career. 

"Being in my fourth year, it's just about leading the team. I want to win a championship and be the best player I can be, probably one of the best players in the country," said Rhooms. 

This year's recruiting window took DeAveiro across the globe with the additions of Emmanuel Owonibi and Andrejs Silconoks, natives of Nigeria and Latvia respectively. 

Landon Wright–brother of TMU women's basketball first-year Callie Wright–Ryan Ziolkowski, Maxine Louis-Jean and Kevin Toth round out the domestic rookie class. 

The Bold also added Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander and Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow to their 2024-25 roster to help diversify their attack. 

DeAveiro's biggest recruiting class since taking over coaching duties for the Bold has seen its biggest influence off the court ahead of the season, with new faces helping instill a winning culture that cranks up the pressure in the right moments. 

"This is a group that supports each other and cheers each other on to success. It's not a matter of who's scoring points and who's doing this because we're doing it together."

The Bold believe they have the right minds and the necessary mindset to pave the way for successful seasons in 2025 and beyond. 

They will have their first chance at proving the values of their new approach come Friday against the Nipissing Lakers. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. and can be viewed on OUA.tv.