Utah Utes basketball: Team to get tested by Illinois in Vegas

LAS VEGAS — After an early-morning practice Wednesday and a bus ride down to the City of Lights that afternoon, a practice at UNLV Thursday morning and a team Thanksgiving dinner at Palms Hotel Thursday afternoon, the Utah basketball team is ready to get down to business.

The Utes will face the first of three ranked teams over the next three weeks when they take on No. 20 Illinois tonight at the Orleans Arena at 8:30 p.m. MST. The game is part of the HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational, following three games earlier in the day.

If the Utes win, they'll play Saturday night against the winner of Oklahoma State-Bradley at 8:30 p.m., while a loss puts them in a 5:30 p.m. game against the loser of that game.

The Utes are trying to shake off a tough loss to Seattle University Tuesday night at the Huntsman Center, where there was plenty of blame to go around.

Ute coach Jim Boylen blamed his top three players, Carlon Brown, Luka Drca and Kim Tillie, saying they have to "carry us," and blamed the entire team for a "lack of trust" and playing too selfishly.

Brown blamed his teammates, as well as himself for not making shots on a night when the Utes hit just 35 percent from the field.

Boylen's biggest disappointment was Utah's "lack of toughness" and getting outrebounded 45-32. If the Utes don't correct that problem, they'll be in for a long night tonight. Illinois is out-rebounding opponents by 9.7 boards per game this year.

"They're athletic, skilled, very good defensively and they rebound the ball well," said Boylen. "They can play the half-court, grind-it-out style, but can also run the ball. Our transition defense will be important."

Illinois' top scorer is 6-4 guard Brandon Paul, who averages 14.0 points per game. Mike Davis, a 6-9, 220-pound forward, averages a double-double at 13.0 points and 11.8 rebounds, while point guard Demitri McCarney averages 11.8 points and 7.3 assists per game.

The Utes will start their usual five — Brown (16.5 ppg), Tillie (9.3 ppg), Drca (8.5 ppg), Marshall Henderson (11.3 ppg) and David Foster (5.8 ppg) with Jason Washburn (10.5 ppg) and Matt Read (4.5 ppg) as the top reserves.

Jay Watkins the 6-7 JC transfer from College of Southern Idaho, who has been out for a month with a groin injury, has been practicing with the Utes this week and is a "game-time decision" according to Boylen.

NOTES: This will mark the third all-time meeting between the Utes and Fighting Illini. The other two games were both played in 1983, as Utah beat Illinois 52-49 in the NCAA Tournament in Boise, and in the season-opener later in the year at Rosemont and lost 99-65 ... Illinois is coached by Bruce Weber, who is 156-57 in his seventh season. He coached the Illini to the NCAA Championship game in 2005 with a team that was led by Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams ... There is no TV of the game, but Ute fans can catch the game by logging onto www.hooptv.net and purchase live streaming for $6.99 for one game or $9.99 for the full tournament pass ... After this weekend, the Utes will play Weber State in Ogden on Dec. 2 and Idaho State at home on Dec. 5.

Utes on the air

Utah (2-2) vs. Illinois (4-0)

Today, 8:30 p.m.

Orleans Arena (7,471), Las Vegas

TV: None

Radio: 700 AM

e-mail: sor@desnews.com