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Returning all but two players from their Sweet 16 run last season, the Runnin' Utes aren't shy about scheduling anyone.
That much is clear from the Utah men's basketball nonconference slate released Tuesday afternoon. There aren't many surprises — many of the opponents were known before Utah released the schedule — but there are some daunting challenges in the first two months of the season, including two foes that beat the Utes last year in Duke and San Diego State.
"You'd be hard-pressed to find many teams with this difficult a schedule," coach Larry Krystkowiak said in a prepared release. "Last year, we had the best strength of schedule in the Pac-12-and one of the best in the country — and we're setting ourselves up to potentially do that again."
The highlight is the contest with the Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 19, which the Utes announced earlier this month. The eventual national champs ended Utah's season last year in the Sweet 16 in Houston.
There's also a rematch with the Aztecs on Nov. 16 at the Huntsman Center. Steve Fisher's SDSU squad got the better of Utah last season in an ESPN-televised game that was decided by four points.
Two tough opponents that will be aiming to avenge losses last year: BYU comes to Huntsman Center on Dec. 2 for an annual rivalry match that's been competitive again in the Krystkowiak era. Utah will head to Kansas for a road game against Wichita State, which saw its lengthy regular-season winning streak end in Salt Lake City last year. The Shockers return star guards Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker, who played in the overtime upset last fall.
Utah will not host a home tournament this season, opting for the sunny shores of Puerto Rico for a three-game tourney. Between Nov. 19-22, the Utes will play against three of the following opponents: Miami, Butler, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Temple or Missouri.
The season kicks off Nov. 13 against Southern Utah. The Runnin' Utes also play Idaho State, Savannah State, Delaware State and one to-be-determined opponent at the Huntsman Center this year. Pac-12 play starts with a road trip to Stanford and Cal the week of Dec. 28, but dates and times haven't yet been finalized for conference games.
Utah will play one exhibition, against Cal State Monterey Bay.
The Utes have high expectations for an experienced group that returns starters Jordan Loveridge, Brandon Taylor, Jakob Poeltl and Chris Reyes, as well as experienced bench players Dakarai Tucker, Brekkott Chapman and Isaiah Wright. Newcomers, particularly junior college transfers Gabe Bealer and Lorenzo Bonam, are expected to fill early roles to help make up for the graduation of All-American guard Delon Wright.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah basketball schedule
Nonconference
Thursday, Nov. 5 • Cal State Monterey Bay (Exhibition)
Friday, Nov. 13 • Southern Utah
Monday, Nov. 16 • San Diego State
Nov. 19-22 • Puerto Rico Tip-off, three games against possible opponents Miami, Butler, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Temple, Missouri
Friday, Nov. 27 • Idaho State
Wednesday, Dec. 2 • BYU
Saturday, Dec. 5 • Indiana University-Purdue Fort Wayne
Saturday, Dec. 12 • at Wichita State
Wednesday, Dec. 16 • Savannah State
Saturday, Dec. 19 • Duke (at Madison Square Garden)
Tuesday, Dec. 22 • Delaware State
Monday, Dec. 28 • TBD pending Pac-12 schedule
Pac-12 pairings
Week of Dec. 28 • at Stanford and California
Week of Jan. 4 • at Colorado
Week of Jan. 11 • Oregon State and Oregon
Week of Jan. 18 • at Washington State and Washington
Week of Jan. 25 • Stanford and California
Week of Feb. 1 • at Oregon State and Oregon
Week of Feb. 8 • Washington State and Washington
Week of Feb. 15 • at USC and UCLA
Week of Feb. 22 • Arizona State and Arizona
Week of Feb. 29 • Colorado