"We put in close to 15 offenses," said swingman Stephen Weigh. "We're going to have one hell of a playbook. It's going to be thick. It's going to take a long time to learn it all."
Fortunately for the Utes, they have some extra time to try and grasp it all.
Utah began preparing for a 12-day trip to Australia on Friday during which it will play in six exhibition games against club teams. The trip will be a homecoming for Weigh and center Luke Nevill.
The NCAA allows its men's basketball teams to take one overseas trip during the summer every four years to play against international competition. Utah last made an overseas trip in 2001 when it traveled to Europe and played in France, Spain and the Canary Islands.
Boylen is thrilled that his team gets to travel to Australia. Utah, under NCAA rules, is allowed to practice for 10 days before leaving for its trip. The extra practice time will give the players and the new coach some time to learn what to expect from each other.
Boylen said returning players Shaun Green and Johnnie Bryant reported to practice in great shape, but he was disappointed in the conditioning level of a couple of his other players. He noted that Green and Bryant worked out at Utah this summer, unlike others who comprise the team's internationally represented roster.
"Ironically, those guys [Green and Bryant] are in the best shape," Boylen said.
In the future, Boylen said all of his players will have to remain in Utah during the summer except for when they're playing for their national team. That's a possibility for Weigh, Nevill, Kim Tillie (France) and Luca Drca (Serbia), but they still won't be gone from the program for the entire summer.
"Coach Boylen wants us all to be together, and that's no problem with me," Weigh said. "After this year, I got two more years left and I want to make the most of those two years. If he thinks it's better for me and for the team, that's no problem at all."
The Utes leave for Australia on Aug. 7 and return Aug. 19. Nine returning players will take part in the trip.
aaragon@sltrib.com
