Utah’s nonconference basketball schedule is upgraded in 2018-19, although that not may become apparent to Huntsman Center ticket-buyers until the end of the calendar year.
The Utes will open the season Thursday night against Maine, one of four visiting opponents ranked lower than No. 300 by kenpom.com among the 353 teams in Division I. Beginning next Monday at Minnesota, Utah’s degree of difficulty will increase on the road and in a neutral-site tournament, so coach Larry Krystkowiak has been conscious of accelerating his team’s preparation for what’s to come.
“I like where we are,” Krystkowiak said this week, on the 40th day of the team's preseason calendar, “but there's going to be things right away that we get exposed on.