Utes looking to build momentum

With its postseason hopes contingent on winning three games in three days at the MWC Tournament, the Utah basketball team is trying to get some momentum going before then.

Losing three straight games isn't a great way to do it, but the Utes do have two winnable games this week at last-place TCU and at home against Wyoming, a team it beat already this year, before heading to Denver the following week.

First, the Utes need to make sure they don't have to participate in the play-in game on Tuesday night of tournament week.

Though improbable, it's not impossible for the Utes to finish in the dreaded No. 8 spot.

If the Utes lose their two remaining games and if Colorado State wins one of its two remaining games to finish at 5-11, the Rams would win the tiebreaker because of their two wins over the Utes. That would leave Utah at No. 8 and with a game against TCU.

Most likely the Utes will finish in the No. 6 or No. 7 spots for the MWC tourney. It could come down to Saturday night's game with Wyoming. If the two teams end up tied, Utah would win the tiebreaker based on its win over first-place San Diego State earlier this month, assuming the Aztecs stay in first.

"We're just trying to get some wins however we can," said senior forward Bryant Markson. "This conference is wide open. We definitely have a chance."

The Utes' first-round opponent in Denver would most likely be BYU or Air Force, with San Diego State an outside possibility. The Utes would obviously prefer to play BYU, a team it beat by 19 at home.

FUTURE UTES: Earlier this month when the Utes played at San Diego State, two future Utes were on hand, cheering the Utes on to victory. Afterward they even posed together for pictures inside Cox Arena.

Curtis Eatmon, a senior at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, and David Foster of El Toro High in Lake Forest, are both having successful senior seasons.

Eatmon is among the top 15 in southern California in assists with 5.8 per game, while averaging 14 points a game. He's helped lead his team to a 25-5 record.

Foster has progressed further than most people expected and made dramatic improvement this year, according to his coach, Todd Dixon. He's averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in his first full year of playing high school basketball. His team is 25-5.