It hasn't been hard to notice one big difference while the Utes work out in advance of their trip to Australia. Sophomore guard Curtis Eatmon has been running the show as the point guard.

But don't be fooled.

Coach Jim Boylen still expects incoming junior-college transfer guard Tyler Kepkay to run the point next season, with senior guard Johnnie Bryant playing mostly his natural position at shooting guard. But Kepkay has not joined the Utes yet, and won't make the trip -- leaving those duties to Eatmon in the meantime.

"He's a developing player," Boylen said.

Eatmon will get plenty of practice at the point during the trip, while Bryant gets re-acquainted with his natural shooting guard position. That's where Boylen expects him to play next season -- though he does envision being able to use both Bryant and Kepkay at either guard spot, depending on match-ups and situations.

That figures to be a big improvement on last season, when the Utes had to use Bryant as the point guard for lack of any better options and tried to mix and match at shooting guard. As a result, the Utes ranked last in the Mountain West Conference in steals, turnover margin and three-point defense.