Utah Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Utes

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Utah Utes fans gesture as a player shoots a free throw during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Utes 66-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 15: Larry Krystkowiak the head coach of the Utah Runnin’ Utes gives instructions to his team against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on December 15, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

With so many young players, expect Utah to take a step back

The schedule will certainly be a testing one for a young Utes’ squad. They travel to Nevada to open the season and host Minnesota before participating in the Myrtle Beach Invitational where they square off with host Coastal Carolina with a potential matchup against preseason top-25 Baylor on deck.

The other side of the bracket features Villanova, Middle Tennessee State, Tulane, and Mississippi State so the Utes third game in the tournament should be a strong test as well. They finish non-conference play with two tough tests on neutral floors, Kentucky in Las Vegas and San Diego State in Los Angeles.

With teams like Arizona, UCLA, and even USC poised to have bounce-back seasons of varying degrees and two tournament teams from last season Washington and Oregon still having strong squads it is quite possible that we see the Utes drop off from the last couple seasons. The combination of teams around them getting better and such a young roster with question marks all around, it’s hard to see Utah seeing postseason action in 2019-20.

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If the Utes want to play in March, some questions will have to be answered quickly. Where does the scoring come from aside from Allen? Are Battin and Gach ready to fill the shoes of those who are gone? And, what kind of contributions will the 10 true-freshmen be able to make? If the answers are positive, the Utes should be a thorn in the side of the other Pac-12 teams.

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