Rick Majerus is gone, Marc Jackson is back, and the Utah Utes have spent the past few weeks of preseason basketball practice working on aspects of the game that seemed to have been almost forbidden in years past.
In short, everything is different.
And the Utes universally expect an exhilarating experience in their first season under new coach Ray Giacoletti, considering that they feel as if they finally get to make the most of their athletic skills in a new up-tempo system - rather than be chained to the structure of a precise half-court style.
"It's a lot more fun," junior forward Richard Chaney said. "A lot more freedom. You just have to pick your moments. We're not trying to go out there all wild and crazy, but coach lets us go a little bit. That's why a lot of guys are more confident."
The Utes hired Giacoletti from Eastern Washington after Majerus stepped down for health reasons in the middle of a 24-9 campaign last season, and the 42-year-old has been received like a breath of fresh air.
He has changed the way the team practices, interacted more personally with players and staff members, and emphasized an energetic full-court philosophy that figures to have the Utes piling up far more points than in the recent past. What's more, he recruited Jackson and sophomore center Andrew Bogut back to the program - perhaps the main reason the Utes were picked to finish second in the Mountain West Conference.
"We're going to be exciting this year," Jackson said.
Certainly looks like it.
Jackson starred for the Utes two years ago but left them last year amid disagreements with Majerus. His return as a senior this season gives the Utes arguably the toughest backcourt in the Mountain West Conference, with both him and junior Tim Drisdom able to play the point and direct a pressure defense - though Drisdom has missed much of preseason practice with a sprained ankle.
"We get out there and defend," Jackson said. "That's our main thing."
The offense should be pretty good, too.
Bogut is back after averaging 12.5 points and 9.9 rebounds to earn freshman of the year honors in the conference last season, and he brings with him the experience of having played for his native Australia in the Athens Games over the summer. He still expects to consider jumping to the NBA after the season - depending on "what sort of year we have," he said - but should provide a dominating presence inside that will open things up on the outside for his teammates.
The outside is where the Utes might look a lot different than last year.
Though they lost senior sharp-shooter Nick Jacobsen, the Utes could wind up hoisting a lot more three-pointers in Giacoletti's system, which features a "license to shoot" that players must earn during practice. Most of the main players have done so, including Bogut, meaning they have the freedom to shoot an open three during games if they have the chance.
The Utes also want to defend from end to end.
"Defense is going to be a priority," Giacoletti said. "But extending the floor doesn't mean you're going to gamble. There's still a purpose to what we're trying to do. It's pressure, without gambling. Solid, but all we're doing is extending the floor 94 feet. And those things take a little bit of time."
The Utes seem more than willing to make it happen - particularly those of them who feel as if they have been freed from a sometimes stifling system. Forward Bryant Markson has dazzled in the preseason, for example, and said he now feels like he can run and jump "all over the place" and take advantage of his stunning athletic ability.
"My talent gets loose a lot more," he said.
The big question, obviously, is how well this emotional emancipation translates to victories.
Always a contender for the conference championship under Majerus - the Utes made 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament in his 15 seasons - the Utes are considered one again, although the players believe they might be able to sneak up on some people.
"I don't think there's really high expectations, that's one of the good things," Bogut said. "I think we come in, being ranked second in conference with a new coach, people aren't going to expect us to be ranked [nationally] immediately. You have to give those things time, so it puts less pressure on the guys, especially, and the coaching staff."
Chaney agreed.
"People think we're not going to be as good this year because we have to learn a new system," he said. "But we have a real brilliant team and we catch on real fast and we're going to turn a lot of heads. I think we're going to be great."
Inside
l A look at how the Utes stack up this season and a complete schedule
PAGE S2
Key number
The Utes are predicted by the media to finish second in the Mountain West Conference
2
Fresh Face
Luke Nevill is a 7-foot freshman whom the Utes discovered while convincing fellow Australian Andrew Bogut to return, though he will redshirt this season because of a dearth of opportunities behind Bogut and junior Chris Jackson.
Opener
Friday, 8 p.m.
Utah
vs. Stony Brook
Utes Glance
Key Loss: Guard Nick Jacobsen was both a steady senior influence and a deadly three-point shooter last season, two things the Utes could wind up missing this year.
Top Returning Players
Tim Drisdom, 6-3 guard, 6.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.6 apg
Marc Jackson, 6-1 guard, 9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.8 apg
Andrew Bogut, 7-0 center, 12.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.3 bpg
Richard Chaney, 6-4 forward, 9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 apg
Justin Hawkins, 6-5 forward, 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.5 spg
Projected starting lineup: G Tim Drisdom, G Marc Jackson, F Richard Chaney, F Justin Hawkins, C Andrew Bogut.
Last year: 24.9 overall, 9-5 Mountain West Conference
Why They Will Win: The Utes will finally get the most out of their athleticism, and center Andrew Bogut has the experience to dominate in his second collegiate season.
Why They Won't Win: Perfecting a new system is never easy, and the Utes will strain to play end-to-end defense quite the way coach Ray Giacoletti expects.
Utah Utes 2004-05 Schedule
Nov. 6 (Sat) vs. Carroll College (Exb.) 7 p.m. Nov. 13 (Sat) vs. Western State College (Exb.) Noon Nov. 19 (Fri) vs. Stony Brook 8 p.m. Great Alaska Shootout - Anchorage, Alaska
(Tournament Field: Utah, Alabama, Alaska Anchorage, Furman, High Point, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Washington)
Nov. 25 (Thu) Utah vs. Washington 6 p.m. ESPN2 Nov. 26 (Fri) Utah vs. Oklahoma/High Point TBA ESPN2 Nov. 27 (Sat) Finals TBA ESPN2 Nov. 30 (Tue) vs. Southern Utah 7 p.m. December
Dec. 4 (Sat) at Utah State 4 p.m. KJZZ-TV Dec. 8 (Wed) vs. Montana-Western 7 p.m. Dec. 11 (Sat) at Arizona 11 a.m. FSN Dec. 17 (Fri) vs. Northern Colorado 7 p.m. Dec. 20 (Mon) vs. Coppin State 7 p.m. Dec. 22 (Wed) at Cal Poly 8 p.m. Dec. 28 (Tue) vs. Weber State 7 p.m. Dec. 30 (Thu) Colorado 7 p.m. January
Jan. 3 (Mon) vs. LSU 8 p.m. KJZZ-TV Jan. 5 (Wed) vs. Whitworth 7 p.m. Jan. 10 (Mon) vs. UNLV 10 p.m. ESPN Jan. 15 (Sat) at Wyoming 4 p.m. KJZZ-TV Jan. 17 (Mon) at Colorado State 6 p.m. KJZZ-TV Jan. 22 (Sat) vs. New Mexico 1 p.m. ESPN+Plus Jan. 24 (Mon) vs. Air Force 7 p.m. Jan. 31 (Mon) at Brigham Young 10 p.m. ESPN
February
Feb. 5 (Sat) at San Diego State 8 p.m. KJZZ-TV Feb. 7 (Mon) at UNLV 8 p.m. KJZZ-TV Feb. 12 (Sat) vs. Colorado State 7 p.m. KJZZ-TV Feb. 14 (Mon) vs. Wyoming 7 p.m. Feb. 19 (Sat at Air Force 1 ESPN+Plus Feb. 21 (Mon) at New Mexico 7 p.m. KJZZ-TV Feb. 26 (Sat) vs. Brigham Young 1 p.m. ESPN+Plus March
March 5 (Sat) vs. San Diego State 1 p.m. ESPN+Plus
Mountain West Conference Tournament
March 10 (Thu) Quarterfinals TBA ESPN March 11 (Fri) Semifinals 7:00/10:00 p.m. ESPN March 12 (Sat) Championship Game 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Dates and times tentative and subject to change.
Inside
l A look at how the Utes stack up this season and a complete schedule
PAGE S2
Key number
The Utes are predicted by the media to finish second in the Mountain West Conference
2
Fresh Face
Luke Nevill is a 7-foot freshman whom the Utes discovered while convincing fellow Australian Andrew Bogut to return, though he will redshirt this season because of a dearth of opportunities behind Bogut and junior Chris Jackson.
Opener
Friday, 8 p.m.
Utah
vs. Stony Brook
