It killed him, having to walk off the court as a loser. Watching the sweat pop out on his forehead and his eyes burn as he told me how bad it felt made me believe him.

So what does the guy go and do? Only create one of the strongest nonconference schedules the Utes have had in a long time.

Oregon, Cal, Gonzaga and LSU highlight the 2008-09 schedule, making Southwest Baptist stick out as one of the few would-be yawners. Even that team has some transfers that will make it a dangerous game. If Boylen hates to lose so much, what in the heck was he thinking when he dreamed up this nonconference list? If he likes winning so much, shouldn't he have padded the schedule with patsies?

Apparently there are two things he hates more than losing, winning games that are meaningless and feeling like he hasn't done enough to help his team improve. Now High Point is out, schools you've heard of are in for the upcoming season.

The Utes went 18-15 last year. Maybe they'll do better this season, maybe they won't, but Boylen believes less wins means more if the schedule is stronger.

"It's better for recruiting, better for TV, and hopefully it gets you noticed," he said. "To win a league championship, we've got to go do it on someone else's floor. Being in big games should help us get ready."

Playing a better schedule will help the team's RPI too, something Boylen believes is necessary after New Mexico won 24 games last season and didn't get into the NCAA Tournament.

"Years ago you could play an easy schedule, win 25-26 games and get in," he said. "It's a different animal now."

All of his reasons sound perfectly logical and plausible, but I keep thinking back to that previous interview with Boylen and I can't help but believe his reasons are really just an excuse to test himself as a coach and his team's potential.

Sure, the Utes may get knocked around and Boylen might lose some fans if the Utes go into a long losing streak. He's definitely not rebuilding his program the safe way by giving his team a soft schedule to boost up its record. Other coaches have survived for years in their programs, satisfied with mediocrity rather than risk becoming part of the coaching carousel.

But taking the conservative route never has fit Boylen - it's a little too much like losing.

"I'm willing to take challenges because I think it makes for a toughness," he said. "Besides, I do want to battle it out and see what we have. Sometimes you have to stick your ass out over the edge and go play."

---

* LYA WODRASKA can be reached at lwodraska@sltrib.com. To write a letter about this or any sports topic, send an e-mail to sportseditor@sltrib.com.