Coach Jim Boylen has nearly a week before his Utes return from fall break for the official start of practice next week, when he will start to get a real feel for how well they might come together for his second season.

For now, though, he's feeling pretty good about them.

"We're bigger, we're stronger, we're faster," he said.

Probably, that's what almost every coach is going to say this time of year, but it beats having a team that looks smaller, weaker and slower. And though the Utes have four seniors on the roster and seven of their top eight scorers back from their 18-15 team last season, Boylen says that "what we really have" is five freshmen and 10 sophomores -- since even the juniors and seniors are entering just their second season playing in his system.

"I like the fact that the veteran guys are helping the younger guys," Boylen said. "They're taking ownership of the younger guys picking up the system. It's fun right now."

Boylen added that three weeks ago, he was worried that his players might not be as well-conditioned as they were last year, following their summertime exhibition tour of Australia. But while the Utes have "had to take it at a little different pace," that fear has been allayed.

"I envision us to be ready for the 17th, the same way we were last year," he said. "And I thought we were in great shape last year."