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The season of fresh beginnings for the University of Utah men's basketball team officially starts Friday, but the Utes already have a sense of what things are going to be like under first-year coach Larry Krystkowiak.
"I haven't worked harder anywhere else," center David Foster said, "than the last few months with Coach K."
Krystkowiak, Utah's third coach in six years, has taken advantage of the two hours he's allowed each week with the team, tinkering and training, ramping up conditioning.
Never worked harder? It might take all of that and more for the Utes to improve on their recent seasons as Mountain West Conference middlers.
Coming off a 13-18 record last year, the Utes were flushed from top to bottom. Foster is one of just four returners. Guard Josh Watkins is the leading returning scorer, after averaging 14.5 points last season, while center Jason Washburn and guard Chris Hines also return.
After that, the faces are new.
Krystkowiak took over for Jim Boylen. Eight scholarship players transferred, and Krystkowiak replaced them with a hodge-podge of unheralded freshmen and junior college transfers. In all, there are 10 newcomers, including three walk-ons.
"I think as a team, we're all coming together," said freshman guard Kareen Storey, a Krystkowiak recruit from Baltimore. "We're all new, so the chemistry is building. I think we're at a good place right now. Everybody has a good attitude about our upcoming season."
It's hard to know what to expect of these upstart Utes, with everything unfamiliar except the low expectations. Preseason magazines and pundits generally have the Utes projected to finish in the bottom quarter of the Pac-12.
"It gives us fire," Storey said. "It pushes us to work hard."
Foster said there is no sense around the team of finding victories in losses. The inaugural Pac-12 Utes, he said, will lay a groundwork by winning games.
"That's what Utah is used to," he said, "winning basketball games. We have to get that trend back."
Krystkowiak took a more diplomatic approach.
"The wins and losses at the end of the day are the benchmark for everything," he said. "But I'm not overly concerned for 'X' amount of wins. I just want to see some marked improvement as we go through this thing."
Twitter: @oramb —
Utah basketball primer
Who's gone • F Jay Watkins, G Will Clyburn, G J.J. O'Brien, G Shawn Glover, G Dominique Lee, G Chris Kupets, G Antonio DiMaria, G Preston Guiot, F Josh Sharp
Who's back • C David Foster, G Josh Watkins, C Jason Washburn, G Chris Hines, G Kyle Perkins
Who's new • Coach Larry Krystkowiak, F Javon Dawson (Soph.), F Dijon Farr (Jr.), F Corbin Green (Soph.), F Cedric Martin (Jr.), F George Matthews (Fr.), G Anthony Odunsi (Fr.), F Alexander Ricketts (Soph.), G Kareen Storey (Fr.), F Blake Wilkinson (Fr.)
The lowdown • These certainly will be "new-look" Utes. A former post player himself, Krystkowiak will push for more post involvement in the offense. One of the worst assist teams in the country, the Utes will show off more of a motion offense. Whether this team of unknowns can make it work in the Pac-12, however, is another matter. For openers
Exhibition Nov. 4 Adams State 7 p.m.
Regular season Nov. 14 San Diego Christian TBA