SALT LAKE CITY — As the Utah basketball team prepares for the upcoming season, don't be surprised if the players wear those stickers that say, "Hello, my name is …" on their jerseys as the team gets to know each other.
With nearly an entirely new roster, the Utes and coach Jim Boylen will be trying to erase bad memories of one of the tougher seasons in Ute basketball history.
Coming off a disappointing 14-17 season and a fifth-place tie in the Mountain West Conference, the Utes are looking for a winning season and a jump in the MWC standings. It won't be easy in a conference with several experienced teams coming back. The Utes were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll — the first time a Ute program has been picked lower than fourth.
Nevertheless, the Utes are excited and optimistic about the upcoming season. They opened practice Friday evening and will play an exhibition game Nov. 5 against Adams State before officially opening the season against Grand Canyon on Nov. 12.
The Utes return starting center David Foster, the MWC defensive player of the year; and part-time starters Shawn Glover, Jay Watkins and Jace Tavita; along with reserves Chris Hines and Jason Washburn.
Those six are expected to be in the playing rotation this season, along with several newcomers. The Utes welcome nine new players to the team, including four JC transfers, three freshmen and two walk-on freshmen.
Gone are last season's three leading scorers — Carlon Brown, Marshall Henderson and Luka Drca — as well as the oft-injured Kim Tillie. Brown and Henderson both had eligibility left — one year for Brown and three for Henderson — but both players were apparently unhappy with their roles on the team and transferred to Colorado and Texas Tech, respectively.
Although coaches and players don't want to speak publicly about it, it's no secret there was a lack of chemistry on last year's Ute squad, something they're trying to correct this season.
"We're trying to make sure we don't have a repeat season of last year," said Foster. "We have a stronger bond of trust among the players and between the players and the coaches. We have better leadership this year, with the players being more of a voice, not only with the returning players, but even a couple of the new guys."
The two most heralded newcomers who are expected to make the biggest impact are JC transfers Josh Watkins and Will Clyburn.
Watkins is a 6-foot guard from New York who led Howard College to the NJCAA championship last year and was named MVP of the tournament. He is known as a true point guard who is tough, quick and can handle the ball as well as score.
Boylen calls Watkins a "proven winner" who "brings toughness to our program with an ability and willingness to make his teammates better."
Clyburn is a 6-6 player who can play the 2 or 3 position. He's a "scorer" who can slash to the basket or knock down the 3-pointer and can also rebound. He averaged 19 points and eight rebounds for Marshalltown CC and once scored 54 points in a game.
"He brings length and athleticism and will help address our needs at the offensive end of the floor," said Boylen.
Both of the new players say the Utes are already coming together as a team, despite so many new players.
"Everybody is bonding like a family right now," said Josh Watkins. "I plan on making everyone else better as well as them making me better. That will make us better as a team."
"I think it's going to be exciting," said Clyburn. "Everybody's come together. We're ready to get after it."
Who will end up starting and playing the most minutes is up in the air as the Utes get under way.
Jay Watkins, no relation to Josh, will likely be the starting big forward, next to Foster. He is the top returning scorer at 9.2 points per game. Washburn will play mostly center, but could also play power forward.
Glover, who started 13 games and averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds, will see a lot of time at the small forward position, along with Clyburn; freshman J.J. O'Brien, a 6-7 wing player from California; and Antonio DiMaria, a 6-6 wing player from Casper Community College.
Josh Watkins could be the true point guard the Utes haven't had for years and will challenge Tavita for the starting spot. Tavita, known for his defense, started 19 games last year but managed to score just 1.4 points per game on 29.1 percent shooting from the field.
Chris Hines, the sophomore out of Houston, can play either guard position, as can JC transfer Chris Kupets, who played for Hill College in Texas last year, averaging 15.9 points per game.
Two new non-scholarship players, 6-7 wing Josh Fuller and 6-10 center Neal Monson, will redshirt this year prior to leaving on LDS missions. A couple of other freshmen, 6-4 guard Dominque Lee and 6-foot Preston Guiot, are candidates to redshirt if they aren't in the rotation by the start of the season.
The Utes' non-conference schedule isn't quite as tough as the past two years and is highlighted by a game against defending NCAA runner-up Butler in the first round of the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii in late December.
Utah also plays Utah State, Michigan, Bradley and Portland on the road and has home games against Fresno State, Boise State, Oral Roberts, Pepperdine, Montana and Weber State. The Utes open MWC play on Jan. 5 at Air Force.
Utah men's basketball
2009-10 record: 14-17 overall, 7-9 in MWC
MWC finish: 5th (tie)
Top returning scorer: Jay Watkins (9.2 ppg)
Top returning rebounder: David Foster (4.8 rpg)
Top returning assists leader: Jace Tavita (2.0 apg)
Exhibition opener: Adams State, Nov. 5
Regular-season opener: Grand Canyon, Nov. 12
MWC opener: At Air Force, Jan. 5
Returning starters: David Foster, Jace Tavita
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