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For the first time, five seconds was missing from each shot clock.
If the Runnin' Utes play remotely at the tempo they showed Thursday night, they won't soon miss it.
No. 16 Utah flew down the floor and piled on the points, racking up a 124-70 exhibition win over Division II Cal State Monterey Bay.
It's hardly a measurement of the competition to come when Utah begins its season next Friday, but the talk of Utah's downshift in size was at least temporarily moved to an upshift in pace. The Utes squeezed in 88 possessions — more than 20 over their average last year — showcasing a potent offense that probably won't score 124 for the rest of the year, but could be a major threat.
"We're going to get back to really running, really being the Runnin' Utes," senior guard Brandon Taylor said. "On the miss, we're going to take the ball right out and push it down the floor."
Larry Krystkowiak said the strength of his team might be in its depth: All 14 Utes who got in the game scored, and the team shot 58 percent from the floor.
Highlights came from experienced hands: Taylor had 20 points in just 23 minutes, and Jordan Loveridge was 7 for 10 while scoring 17 points. Jakob Poeltl, with tape on his hand, scored 10, added nine rebounds and — most importantly to nail-biting fans — made all three of his free throw attempts.
Of last year's role players, Kyle Kuzma appears ready to make the biggest leap. The sophomore forward excelled, notching a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double and manning both post roles for the Utes. Isaiah Wright added 10 points and a team-high 6 assists with only one turnover.
Among the newcomers, Lorenzo Bonam and Gabe Bealer stood out. Bonam had 14 points, 7, rebounds and 4 assists, showing a versatile offensive game while also nabbing three steals. Bealer scored 14 points in only 13 minutes, and he got one of the loudest cheers of the night on a transition block.
But there's only so much to be taken from an exhibition in which Utah led by double-digits for the final 33 minutes.
The mismatch with the Division II program led to comical statistics, including a 61-31 rebounding disparity. Poeltl led all players in plus-minus with a plus-45 rating.
The Utes passed the century mark with well over seven minutes left in the game, as fans began to file out of the Huntsman Center.
This early in the season, there's always plenty still to nail down. The Utes threw out a number of different lineups, including ones with Kuzma and Brekkott Chapman playing both post spots, or Poeltl as the lone big man. Krystkowiak acknowledged he's still tinkering with both different sized lineups and different mixes of experience.
"It's that time where we're trying to sort some things out," he said. "Nothing is set in stone with this team. … Figuring out who complements each other is really part of my job right now."
The season opens on Nov. 13 at home against Southern Utah, kicking off a five-game slate in only nine days, as Utah then plays San Diego State on the following Monday, and heads to Puerto Rico for games starting Nov. 19.
Kenneth Ogbe and Brandon Miller were the only Utes not to participate in the scrimmage.
Twitter: @kylegoon