versation that he has is for him and weve worked everyth

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kyle Kuzma posted career highs with 23 points and 19 rebounds as Utah defeated Northwest Nazarene 81-37 in its season opener Saturday evening.Utah fans got their first full glimpse of the new-look Utes and their roster consisting of just two legitimate contributors from last season.This morning, I was just extra turned up, Kuzma said. I dont for whatever reason. Its game day.I tried to bring energy. I think that was the biggest thing. When we have energy-givers, then everybody feeds off of that.The Utes struggled mightily for the first 16 minutes of the first half until a 17-3 run basically put the game away after they led 36-20 at halftime. Utah shot under 40 percent most of the first half as the offense seemed to have no real direction.Kuzma started passively, like the rest of the team, but picked up the aggression and finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the first half alone. He highlighted the 17-3 stretch with a spinning floater while being fouled. Teammate Tyler Rawson added 13 points.Its a starting point for us, Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. We had guys that tried to push the issue a little bit too much. Didnt trust the offense. We cleaned it up a little bit and got some composure in the second half.Some of its jitters. Got to find some consistency and some roles.Northwest Nazarene, which was playing a back-to-back after defeating Simpson University 92-67 on Friday, shot just 16.4 percent from the field and 1 for 25 from behind the arc. Maurice Jones scored 11 points. The 37 points are the fourth fewest Utah has allowed since 1982.Obviously, we played a team that was much bigger and more talented to their level, Northwest Nazarene coach Scott Flemming said. I never would have thought we would shoot the ball so poorly tonight. We have a really good shooting team. We hit eleven 3s last night against different competition.Even the open looks we got, I think that was the biggest problem. Now when youre not making shots, all of the other things kind of are obvious, too -- their rebounding, their size, all those kind of things. It hurts in transition. It still is a good game for us to have.BIG PICTURENorthwest Nazarene: No harm, no foul for the Crusaders. As a Division 2 member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the loss doesnt count toward their regular-season record. Plus, they have to feel pretty good about the early parts of the first half against a Pac-12 program that has reached the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons.Utah: Theres lots of work to do for a Utah team with just two returners having played significant minutes. The offense had no flow for much of the game outside of the spurts when Kuzma took over. The defensive intensity came and went. The Utes must improve before Pac-12 play or they will live up (or down) to their preseason pick of finishing No. 8 in the league.SHORT STAFFEDUtah will be without newcomers David Collette and Sedrick Barefield until the Utes play face Prairie View A&M on Dec. 17. The two will miss the first eight games due to transfer rules, but are expected to be starters once they return. Sophomore Parker Van Dyke, freshman Devon Daniels and redshirt freshman Jayce Johnson started alongside returning starters Kuzma and Lorenzo Bonam.BALL CONTROLThe Utes had 19 turnovers, including seven from Bonam, who had six at halftime. Krystkowiak said the goal was 12. Bonam struggled all around with just five points and going 0 for 4 after making his first basket.UP NEXTNorthwest Nazarene: The Crusaders face Portland Bible in Caldwell, Idaho, in the Taco Bell Shootout.Utah: The Utes host Concordia on Tuesday and Coppin State on Friday as they open the season with three games in six days. 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After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Participating in an NFL practice for the first time since 2014, San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Anthony Davis uttered a common refrain at training camps around the league.Yeah, Im in the best shape Ive ever seen, Davis said.Unlike many players, though, Davis was able to offer some statistical evidence of just how far he has come from when he last played in an organized football game.[In 2014], I played at about 365-370 [pounds], Davis said. Right now, Im about 332.Following a surprised response from one reporter, Davis looked up and smiled.I dont know how I played at that weight, either, Davis said.Davis abruptly announced his retirement in June of 2015, saying he hoped to get away from the game for a year or two to let his body and mind heal.The NFL reinstated Davis on Saturday after he applied earlier in the week. Given the benefit of hindsight, Davis said he still believes his decision to walk away was the right one.I didnt miss it right away, Davis said. I had a lot of work to do on my mind and body, so I knew it wasnt ready to come back and play, so missing it wouldnt have done me any good.During his year-plus away from the game, Davis occasionally chimed in on social media with perceived shots at the organization, general manager Trent Baalke and left tackle Joe Staley.Before the NFL draft, Davis suggested that the Niners should take an offensive tackle with their first-round pick. Asked about it Sunday, he implied he was hoping to cajole the Niners into doing what he wanted.That was me trying to manipulate emotions to get what I wanted at that time, Davis said.Asked what he wanted, Davis declined to elaborate.It doesnt matter now, he said. Im here, Im happy and were moving forward.Upon his return to the team, Davis began patching up whatever issues remained with the appropriate parties, including aa long conversation with Baalke.ddddddddddddYou can put all of that stuff to rest, Baalke said. We had an excellent conversation. Everythings in actions. Words are words.A.D. and I have had a pretty good relationship, a special relationship, dating back to 2010. Thereve been times when weve gone at it, and he understands why and we move on.Me and Trent, we get into it sometimes, but our relationship is fine, Davis said. So we have a special relationship. Sometimes we bump heads and we get past it. He understands.Staley said he and Davis also had the necessary discussions to wipe the slate clean.We have had all the conversations we need, Staley said. Im excited hes back on the football team. And any conversation that he has is for him and weve worked everything out we need to work out. Were all excited hes back on the football team.Davis spent Sundays practice working with the third team at right tackle. Coach Chip Kelly has made no promises to Davis, only emphasizing that he gets to work from a blank canvas.I told him hes got a blank slate, just like every other player and just like every other coach here, Kelly said. Were all new. I wasnt here in the past.For me to walk in, its not fair to him for me to have some preconceived idea of what he is because of something that was written or something that he said or whatever. I dont really get involved in that aspect of things. Its really the face-to-face meetings and the talks that Ive had and theyve been minimal, but theyve been productive. So, well see where he is and thats how I approach it with everybody. On Day 1, respect is given and then over time, trust is earned. So, well see how that goes. But, I was encouraged in my initial conversations with A.D. ' ' '