LARAMIE, Wyo. — As the Utah basketball team tries to jockey for position for the upcoming Mountain West Conference Tournament, it will be shorthanded for tonight's game against Wyoming at the Arena-Auditorium.

The Utes will be missing freshman guard Curtis Eatmon, who underwent surgery for a broken nose Tuesday, and backup center Misha Radojevic, who is serving a one-game suspension for an undisclosed rules violation.

However, the Utes may also be without leading scorer and rebounder Luke Nevill, who suffered a right hip pointer in Monday's practice.

Nevill sat in street clothes during Tuesday's practice and is questionable for tonight's game, according to coach Ray Giacoletti. He said if Nevill can't play, then freshmen David Foster and Daniel Deane would fill in at the 5 spot.

Giacoletti had no comment on Radojevic, except to say he would not be playing tonight. Radojevic, who sat out the past three games and has played only 26 minutes since the start of MWC play, did not practice Tuesday or accompany the team on the trip to Laramie.

The Utes will also make a change in the starting lineup with junior Chris Grant, who started the second half against UNLV Saturday, starting at guard in place of freshman Luke Drca.

The coaches and players left on a bus Tuesday afternoon. Originally, some of the players and coaches were going to fly on a private jet owned by Jon Huntsman Sr., but Giacoletti changed his mind and decided everyone should ride the bus.

When asked about the change, he said simply, "We're busing over."

The Utes have had success at Wyoming under Giacoletti, winning each of the past two years, after winning just once in the previous 12 years under coach Rick Majerus.

Giacoletti says there's no trick to winning in Laramie.

"We need to stop their transition, defend the ball screens and rebound," he said. "If we do those three things, we have a chance to be successful against Wyoming."

The Cowboys are a guard-oriented team behind Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones, and the Utes will likely have to shut them down to win the game.

"Both those guys are playing really well," Giacoletti said. "If we're able to defend them in transition and in the half-court pick and rolls, you give yourself a chance."

In the 62-60 win in Salt Lake, the Utes held Ewing to just nine points, while Jones made just 4-of-11 from the field.

In each of the wins the past two years, the Utes got out to quick starts and held the Cowboys to low first-half totals. In 2005, the Utes led 16-0 and 32-16 at halftime, while last year, the Utes led 29-15 at the half.

With a win, the Utes could move up in the MWC standings into a possible tie with Wyoming for fifth place. The Utes are 4-8, while the Cowboys are 5-7 going into the game. Colorado State (5-8) has a chance to move ahead of the Utes and Cowboys with a win at BYU tonight.

The Ute players set some goals for themselves after a players-only meeting Monday, and they hope to finish the season strong and have more fun playing.

After tonight's game, the Utes return home for a pair of games Saturday against New Mexico and Tuesday against San Diego State.

---

E-mail: sor@desnews.com