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Larry Krystkowiak is looking for defensive improvement as Utah meets College of Idaho in a basketball exhibition game Thursday

Utes will open the regular season Nov. 8 at home vs. Maine.

Utah's Donnie Tillman (3) reaches for a rebound between Washington's Hameir Wright (13) and Noah Dickerson (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Utah's basketball exhibition opponent is good enough offensively to test the Utes' defense, and coach Larry Krystkowiak is looking for a better initial effort than his team showed in last weekend's closed scrimmage at Saint Mary's.

The Utes will stage their only public exhibition game of the preseason, meeting NAIA member College of Idaho on Thursday at the Huntsman Center.

Utah played three 20-minute periods Saturday at Saint Mary’s. By Krystkowiak’s account, the Utes lost the first segment by 15 points and won the second part by 15, then the last period was about even. He was disappointed about how the Utes let offensive frustration become “baggage” that affected their defense in the first 20 minutes. “That’s not in Utah’s DNA,” he said after Wednesday’s practice.

As with all contests against outside opponents, Krystkowiak liked being able to show film of Utah's mistakes and endorsed the players' response this week. The Utes will open the regular season Nov. 8 at home vs. Maine.

COLLEGE OF IDAHO AT UTAH

EXHIBITION


When • Thursday, 6 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Networks


Utah’s projected starting lineup Thursday includes guards Sedrick Barefield and Charles Jones Jr., forwards Donnie Tillman and Timmy Allen and center Novak Topalovic, although senior guard Parker Van Dyke may start, Krystkowiak said. Vante Hendrix and Both Gach are among the players solidly in the rotation.

Forward/center Jayce Johnson, who broke a bone in his foot in early October, received a favorable update Monday, Krystkowiak said, but has not been cleared to play.

The Utes have hosted College of Idaho in regular-season games twice, winning 72-38 in 2012 and 115-74 in 2015. The Yotes are coached by Colby Blaine, who has succeeded former Utah assistant Scott Garson this season after assisting him for four years. Blaine is a nephew of the late Tim Blaine, one of Krystkowiak's high school coaches in Montana.

College of Idaho has played two games this month, beating New Hope Christian 88-74 and defeating Salish Kootenai 128-94 in an Oct. 12-13 tournament.

After taking the Yotes to the national semifinals, Garson left in April to become a Santa Clara assistant and Blaine was promoted.

Utah women 118, Westminster 80

Megan Huff and Dre’Una Edwards each scored 20 points and redshirt freshman Dru Gylten posted 16 assists as the Ute women’s team defeated Westminster College in an exhibition game Wednesday morning in front of 5,009 fans — mostly elementary school children in Halloween costumes. Gylten’s assist total would have been a school record, in a regular-season game.

Denise Gonzalez scored 26 points for the Griffins, who trailed 54-45 at halftime. Utah will open the regular season next Wednesday at Nevada.