This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah men's basketball team announced its schedule for the upcoming season, and the nonconference slate appears built for wins for a program that last year won six games overall.
The Utes could get more than that before Pac-12 games begin on Jan. 3 at Arizona. After an exhibition against Division II Simon Fraser, the Utes will begin their games that count against Division III Willamette and in December will play NAIA Evergreen State.
On Twitter, Yahoo! college analyst Jeff Eisenberg called the schedule "Charmin soft."
"Scheduling is a big part of building a program, along with recruiting," coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "You can't bite off more than you can chew. I thought we did last year."
For the first time since 1988, the Utes will host a regular-season tournament. They will play games on Nov. 21, 23 and 24 against Central Michigan, Idaho State and Wright State, the order of which will be determined later.
The schedule offers only one in-state opponent, BYU. The Utes travel to Provo on Dec. 8.
The Utes will not play any member of a BCS conference in the preseason, although they have a home-and-home with Southern Methodist, which will be in its first season under Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown. The Utes will travel to SMU on Nov. 28 and host the Mustangs on Dec. 18.
The Utes finished 6-25 last year, and won three games in the preseason.
In conference play, the Utes will have home-and-home matchups with seven teams. They will play UCLA and USC only at home, on Jan. 10 and 12, and will play at Washington State and Washington on Jan. 17 and 19.
Utah basketball 2012-13 season schedule
Nov. 2 • Simon Fraser (exhibition)
Nov. 9 • Willamette
Nov. 16 • Sacramento State
Nov. 21 • Central Michigan/Idaho State/Wright State
Nov. 23 • Central Michigan/Idaho State/Wright State
Nov. 24 • Central Michigan/Idaho State/Wright State
Nov. 28 • at SMU
Nov. 30 • at Texas State
Dec. 5 • Boise State
Dec. 8 • at BYU
Dec. 14 • Evergreen State
Dec. 18 • SMU
Dec. 21 • Cal State Northridge
Jan. 3 • at Arizona
Jan. 5 • at Arizona State
Jan. 10 • UCLA
Jan. 12 • USC
Jan. 17 • at Washington State
Jan. 19 • Washington
Jan. 24 • Stanford
Jan. 26 • California
Feb. 2 • Colorado
Feb. 7 • at Oregon
Feb. 9 • at Oregon State
Feb. 14 • Arizona State
Feb. 16 • Arizona
Feb. 23 • at Colorado
Feb. 28 • at California
March 2 • at Stanford
March 7 • Oregon State
March 9 • Oregon
March 13-16 • Pac-12 Conference Tournament; MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas