Utes and Zags will ring out 2007

SPOKANE — A couple of short-handed teams square off tonight in what could become an annual New Year's Eve battle.

Utah meets Gonzaga today at 6 p.m. MST at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Ute coach Jim Boylen said last week that he's trying to get the Utah-Gonzaga game to be an annual New Year's Eve affair. The Utes and Bulldogs are scheduled to play next year at the Huntsman Center on Dec. 31.

"I think it's great," he said. "It's great for basketball, it's great for families to have something to do on New Year's Eve. We're hoping to get this as a standing series where it's something we can do every year."

The fact that Gonzaga is a perennial Top 25 program doesn't scare off Boylen.

"It's a great game for us," he said. "They are a quality program, a top 20 program. It sets up as a good rivalry. We're not to where they are yet as a top 20 program, but we'd like to get there. It's a great opportunity for us."

The Bulldogs started the season ranked No. 14 and stayed in the top 25 until recent back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Tennessee. They are 9-4 on the season and starting to get back to full strength after being without some of their top players.

Josh Heytvelt, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound center, who is the top returning scorer on the team, broke his ankle in October and has played in just two games. Against Tennessee Saturday night he scored 12 points in 24 minutes. However, after the game, coach Mark Few said his big center is "not even close" to being at full strength.

Steven Gray, a 6-4 freshman guard, has played just three games after suffering a broken wrist.

Matt Bouldin, a 6-5 sophomore guard, sat out a game with an injury but leads the team with a 13.3 average and is coming off a 21-point performance against Tennessee.

Other top players for the Zags are Jeremy Pargo, who averages 12.5 points per game, Austin Daye (11.8 ppg), Micah Downs (9.8 ppg) and David Pendergraft (9.2 ppg).

"I have a lot or respect for (coach Few), and I think he's one of the best offensive coaches in the country," said Boylen. "It's very intimidating to watch them on film. They're going to put a lot of pressure on our defense. They've got length talent and versatile guys and now they've got depth, so look out. They're going to be tough."

The Utes will be without sophomore Kim Tillie, who is the first frontcourt reserve for the Utes. He suffered a stress fracture of his right leg last week and is expected to be out four to six weeks.

"This is a game where Kim Tillie would have been very valuable," said Boylen.