Utes are eager to get going vs Maine, and Larry Krystkowiak says, ‘I like where we are.’

Utah’s nonconference basketball schedule is upgraded in 2018-19, although that may not 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.”

Krystkowiak gave his team mixed reviews last week after a 96-76 exhibition win over College of Idaho. Maine, coming off a 6-26 season and ranked No. 333, shouldn’t reveal many flaws in Utah’s defense. The Black Bears lost 62-50 at Denver in their opener Tuesday. They’re an interesting story, though, with coach Richard Barron having moved over from the Maine women’s program and hiring a female assistant coach, former WNBA player Edniesha Curry.

The Utes' development also will be fascinating to watch unfold. “This team’s coming along — even myself, playing along with these guys,” said sophomore forward Donnie Tillman, a veteran in the context of Utah’s roster. “It can go either way. It can be a great year, or it can be a really bad year. But with these dudes' work ethic and the time we’re putting in, I think it’s going to be a great year.”

Krystkowiak described preseason practice as “pretty rewarding” during “a rigorous time of year,” as his staff has done a lot of teaching with so many newcomers. Freshman forward Timmy Allen and graduate transfer Novak Topaolvic are expected starters, along with Tillman and seniors Sedrick Barefield and Parker Van Dyke. Forward-center Jayce Johnson is practicing on a limited basis, five weeks after breaking a bone in his foot.

Krystkowiak likes how the Utes have been able to define roles, “and we know how we want to play,” he said. The challenges will come with “how we deal with adversity, going out on the road.”

As for the home schedule, Tulsa (No. 116) is the biggest draw, prior to No. 5 Nevada’s visit Dec. 29. Kentucky, kenpom.com’s No. 9 team, is the marquee road opponent next month. The Utes' other top-60 opponents are No. 50 Minnesota and No. 58 BYU (at Vivint Smart Home Arena).

The three-game Wooden Legacy in California during Thanksgiving weekend is Utah’s scheduling variable. If the Utes end up playing No. 45 Seton Hall and No. 20 Miami after beating No. 220 Hawaii, their schedule certainly will have lived up to the upgraded description.