Here is the ESPN Insider article for Utah's season preview:

"Utah Utes


2013-14: 21-12 (9-9 Pac-12)
In-conference offense: 1.06 points per possession (6th)
In-conference defense: 1.00 points allowed per possession (2nd)

When he arrived in Salt Lake City in 2011, Larry Krystkowiak inherited perhaps the worst major-conference program in the nation. The Utah Utes won just six games in Krystkowiak's first season, their first in the Pac-12. Now, just three seasons later, Krystkowiak has the Utes poised to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009.

Projected starting lineup
Pos. Name season
C
Dallin Bachynski
Sr.
F
Brekkott Chapman
Fr.
F
Jordan Loveridge
Jr.
G
Brandon Taylor
Jr.
G
Delon Wright
Sr.
In Jim Boylen's final season, Utah went 6-10 in its last tour of the Mountain West Conference. While the level of competition stiffened with the move to the Pac-12, the Utes' roster was depleted by transfers. Of four returning rotation players, one was lost to preseason injury while another was dismissed from the team in the middle of the season. A trying campaign saw Utah start 0-8 against Division I foes and finish 3-15 in Pac-12 play.

Since then, Krystkowiak has built up the program, long a mid-major power. The first key for Krystkowiak was keeping local talent in Salt Lake City. During his first season, Krystkowiak's biggest win came off the court, when he landed talented forward Jordan Loveridge from the suburb of West Jordan. Last season, the Utes snagged another major score in ESPN 100 forward Brekkott Chapman, from nearby Roy.

The rebuilding process received an unexpected boost from Delon Wright, a transfer from the City College of San Francisco who had the most immediate impact of any junior college transfer in recent Pac-12 history. Wright led the Utes in scoring (15.5 points per game), assists (5.3), steals (2.5) and even blocks (1.3) while finishing second in rebounding (6.8). Wright's 7.3 win shares led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth nationally, per Sports-Reference.com.

Thanks largely to Wright's versatile contributions, Utah -- picked last in the conference in this space a season ago -- proved far more competitive than expected. The Utes jumped from 10th to second in the Pac-12 in defensive efficiency (allowing 1.00 points per possession), and their efficiency margin in conference play (plus-0.06 points per possession) ranked third, behind Arizona and UCLA but ahead of four teams that reached the NCAA tournament.

So why wasn't Utah in the mix for an at-large berth? Close losses. The Utes suffered seven of their nine Pac-12 losses by four points or fewer and finished tied for eighth in the conference at 9-9. Turn just a couple of those narrow defeats into victories and Utah could have found itself playing in the NCAA tournament. Better execution down the stretch is a focus for Krystkowiak.

[+] EnlargeLarry Krystkowiak
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Larry Krystkowiak says that finishing games strong is a key point of emphasis this season.
"Believe me, we've all taken ownership right on down the line," he said. "We've looked at all the games. It wasn't necessarily a common thread with every game. Hopefully, the players are taking to heart what goes on. A lot of those guys will have another season under the belt and maybe when we're presented with a close opportunity the next time we'll be able to make the plays."

The Utes also weren't helped by their nonconference schedule, which ranked 350th out of 351 teams per KenPom.com, ahead of only Mississippi State. While Krystkowiak notes opponents like UC Davis proved less challenging than anticipated, he acknowledges the team was further along than the staff expected when scheduling. So, with Wright passing on the NBA draft and returning for his senior season, and four other starters back, the schedule has been beefed up accordingly. Utah will host Wichita State and travel to face BYU, Kansas, San Diego State and UNLV on the road.

The returning starters will be pushed by a solid recruiting class. In addition to Chapman, the Utes also add another four-star prospect by ESPN Recruiting Nation's analysis, wing Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma actually spent last season on campus, opting to redshirt rather than play for a prep school in the hopes of accelerating his adjustment. Both Chapman and Kuzma will push for playing time right away.

The newcomers at forward figure to change Loveridge's role. At 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, Loveridge has given away size to opponents throughout his two seasons at Utah as an undersized power forward. With Chapman in particular offering more size at the position, Loveridge can expect to spend time on the wing. That will require him to improve on last season's 31 percent 3-point shooting, which came on 4.4 attempts per game.

In the middle, the Utes bring back both Dallin Bachynski (brother of former Arizona State center Jordan) and Jeremy Olsen. The 7-foot Bachynski replaced the 6-10 Olsen as the starter midway through Pac-12 play on the strength of his high-percentage finishing (62 percent on 2-point attempts) and superior rebounding. Both players are solid rim protectors, and Utah led the Pac-12 in block rate in conference games. Krystkowiak also adds 7-foot Austrian centerJakob Poeltl, who could command playing time immediately.

Wright's ability to serve as a lead guard and defend wings was ideal for backcourt-mateBrandon Taylor, a 5-10 shooting guard. Taylor is the team's primary perimeter threat, having hit nearly two 3-pointers per game at a 40 percent clip. Starting wing Dakarai Tucker also shot 39 percent. Still, the incoming talent will force Taylor and Tucker to compete for playing time this season.

"It's going to be pretty spicy," Krystkowiak said. "There really isn't anyone who's penciled in. Delon would be the one guy I'd think you'd have to say the coach was crazy if you didn't think he was going to start. But we've got a lot of competition at every spot. We've got a lot of sparks flying and the new guys are pushing the veterans."

The result should be a deeper team, led by the Pac-12's best player. Like Stanford a season ago, the Utes are bound to have more success in close games. However, they also might not find themselves needing to pull out so many thrilling finishes this time around. Utah is as talented as anyone in the conference outside of Arizona and UCLA and adds experience to that mix. Expect the Utes to make their second NCAA tournament appearance in the past decade -- and stay for more than just one game.

Projected 2014-15 conference finish: 2nd"