Utes face fired-up Lobo team

It's not often that a basketball game between a pair of 4-9 teams means very much.

That's not the case with today's matchup (3:30 p.m.) at the Huntsman Center between former Mountain West Conference powers Utah and New Mexico, who are both 4-9 in MWC play.

The Utes and Lobos, who just a couple of years ago were battling for the top spot in the MWC standings, are fighting to stay out of the play-in game at the MWC Tournament 10 days from now.

The winner of today's game will likely be assured of starting the tournament on Thursday, while the loser will most likely end up with a Tuesday night matchup against 2-11 TCU, which has lost 11 straight games and is destined for the play-in game.

The game also features a matchup of beleaguered coaches. Just Thursday, New Mexico fired coach Ritchie McKay effective at the end of the season. Utah coach Ray Giacoletti has been under fire by fans for much of this season in which the Utes are a disappointing 9-17, but he said Friday he hasn't heard a word from athletic director Chris Hill about his future.

Giacoletti and McKay are good friends, having served together as assistant coaches at the University of Utah a decade ago. Giacoletti said he called McKay Thursday night to console his old friend.

McKay's firing after five seasons may actually help the Lobos today if you believe what his players are saying.

According to a story in Friday's Albuquerque Tribune, several players were upset by the firing and vowed to dedicate their remaining games to their coach.

"To know he's not going to be here will light a fire in our belly," said guard Ryan Kersten.

"I don't like it at all," added guard Darren Prentice. "We still have games left, but we'll just try to win it for him."

And then there was forward Aaron Johnson, who said, "I just feel bad for the teams we're going to play, because it'll be hell for them."

When asked for his reaction, Giacoletti wondered why the Lobo players didn't have that attitude before their coach was fired.

The Lobos' leading scorer J.R. Giddens, who torched the Utes with 26 points in an overtime win in Albuquerque, has sat out for two games since being indefinitely suspended a week ago.

However, McKay said Giddens would make the trip to Salt Lake after practicing Friday. The Utes expect him to play.