Mississippi Valley State @ Utah preview

Junior guard Sedrick Barefield can be a difference-maker for Utah this season and he'll try to continue proving it when the Runnin' Utes host Mississippi Valley State on Monday. Barefield, who averaged nine points in 2016-17 and is the second-highest returning scorer from last year, recorded 22 points and four assists, and was 8-for-12 from the field in Friday's season-opening 83-62 victory over Prairie View A&M.

With Kyle Kuzma (16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds per game last season) gone to the Los Angeles Lakers and Lorenzo Bonam (12.5 points) also departed, Barefield, and senior forwards Tyler Rawson and David Collette, will be expected to carry the scoring load this season. "The coaches are allowing me to be aggressive and trusting me a little bit more," Barefield told reporters. "I've always wanted to do what the team needs to win whether it's taking five shots and getting everybody involved or taking 10 shots. It's whatever the team needs.'' Collette, who averaged 13.6 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, scored 17 and grabbed seven boards Friday while Lawson produced 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. The Delta Devils, who lost 91-61 on Saturday at BYU as part of a three-game swing through the state of Utah, were selected to finish ninth among 10 teams in the Southwest Athletic Conference preseason poll.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (0-1): Junior guard Tereke Eckwood scored 16 points versus BYU in his Delta Devils debut after transferring from Paris Junior College. Junior forward Dante Scott recorded 13 points after playing at Howard Community College last season while senior center Jamal Watson scored 12 on Saturday after averaging 1.7 points and 9.2 minutes last season. Watson is one of only two players returning from last season, with sophomore forward Lorenzo Hunt the other.

ABOUT UTAH (1-0): Rawson said there won't be any cohesion issues despite the loss of four of the top six scorers from last season. "I feel like we have a good group of guys that really mesh together,'' Rawson told reporters. "... Coach (Larry Krystkowiak) has done a great job of bringing guys in. Our future recruiting classes are going to be nice. We just all get along, simple as that." Freshman forward Chris Seeley recorded six points, five rebounds and three fouls in 10 minutes versus Prairie View A&M.

TIP-INS

1. Utah recorded 14 assists and 19 turnovers Friday after finishing with a minus-1.44 assist-to-turnover ratio last season.

2. The Utes are 65-9 at home since the 2013-14 season.

3. The Delta Devils, who visit Utah State on Wednesday, play their first 13 games on the road before beginning SWAC play at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 1.

PREDICTION: Utah 80, Mississippi Valley State 58