Published: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 8:31 p.m. MST
OGDEN ? A couple of weeks ago, when the University of Utah men's basketball team was stumbling and struggling through a dreadful eight-game losing streak, tonight's game against a solid Weber State squad looked like a lost cause.
But now, with the Utes having won back-to-back games and seemingly starting to figure things out, the Wildcats figure they'll have their hands full.
That's certainly the way WSU head coach Randy Rahe sizes up the situation facing his team tonight when the Utes invade the Dee Events Center ? very possibly for the last time, with Utah's move to the Pac-12 Conference making future trips to Ogden doubtful.
"I'll tell you one thing right now, they're a different team these last three games than they were before that," he said. "They're starting to understand how they're going to play; they're playing with a lot of aggression; they're playing tough, and they're playing physical.
"I watched the BYU game, and they absolutely physically beat the heck out of BYU. They're playing aggressive and guarding really, really well, and you can just start to see 'em come."
Rahe has reason to be concerned.
After playing instate rival BYU tough in what turned out to be a 19-point loss, the Utes claimed a 71-59 victory over Idaho State. Then on Monday night, while Weber State was busy pounding NAIA opponent Mayville State by 49 points, Utah slipped past the University of Portland by a 72-67 margin.
Senior point guard Josh "Jiggy" Watkins leads the Utes in scoring with 16.7 points per game, which ranks second-best in the Pac-12, and he poured in a season-high 26 points in Monday's win over the Pilots from Portland. Junior forward-center Jason Washburn adds 11.5 ppg had a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game, which is sixth-best in the Pac-12.
"They're starting to find their stride, which you knew they were going to do," Rahe said of the Utes. "They've got some really good players. I mean, Jiggy can play, he's as good a point guard as there is out there. The Washburn kid is a big ol' kid inside with mobility and touch and hands, and the Martin kid can shoot the absolute tar out of the ball.
"It just took them awhile to find their way, and now that they've found it, they're going to be playing very, very confident, so we know we've got our hands full. There ain't no doubt about that. We're going to have to prepare really hard ... and get in the right mindset to get ready to go fight 'em, because it's going to be a tough, tough game. We're very aware of that."
The Wildcats will counter with a lineup which, though missing two front-line starters due to injuries, is spearheaded by junior guard Damian Lillard, who scored 28 points in just 24 minutes in Monday's blowout win.
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