Utah Utes basketball: Utes ready to return to the floor

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — If the University of Utah women's basketball team has its way, what happened in Vegas will stay in Vegas.

It's been 11 days since the Utes were dispatched from the Mountain West Conference tournament with a shocking 60-52 loss to last-place Colorado State. They entered the contest with 22 consecutive wins and left it in a tailspin that resulted in a lower-than-expected No. 8 seed in the NCAA tourney — complete with an opening-round game against Purdue on the Boilermakers' home floor.

Despite the degree of difficulty, 17th-ranked Utah (27-4) is looking forward to tonight's tilt at Mackey Arena (5 p.m., ESPN2). The Utes have been eager to get back on the floor and play a game again.

"This whole week in practice has just been going at each other, making sure we're ready to play Purdue. They're really athletic," said junior Morgan Warburton. "I think we're just ready to show people that our last game was not our best game. We want to go out and prove to people that we are ready to play — no matter what circumstances."

The loss to CSU, obviously, hasn't set well.

"You're just thinking about a loss. You just want to get back out there, get a win and know the feeling of winning and beating teams," said Warburton. " ... That's what has been our motivation, just being able to play again."

Utah coach Elaine Elliott wants to leave the loss to the Rams in the past.

"That needs to just go away," she said. "(The players) probably got

over it better than I did. That's always the way it is. Kids are resilient. Now they're ready. They've practiced well."

The Utes, she explained, have had a chance to rest and really prepare for Purdue.

"We came back and practiced hard. I think we had a good response to it," said senior Leilani Mitchell. "But this will be our first real test since then. So we're excited, and we can't wait to get out there and play."

Before Saturday's practice, Elliott expressed confidence in her team. She expects them to bounce back in the tournament.

"I trust them," said Elliott. "I just know that this is what they've been after. Now this is their chance. So they'll do well."