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Las Vegas • The hottest team entering the Pac-12 Tournament is searching for that feeling of what it's like to lose.
The No. 12 Utes, who will open tournament play as a 2-seed on Thursday night, are studying their last game as if it was a loss. They're trying to practice as if they're coming off a loss.
The only thing missing is an actual loss: Utah's 57-55 win over Colorado on Saturday was the team's seventh straight victory. But in coach Larry Krystkowiak's words, the Utes "dodged a bullet" in their regular season finale, so going forward, he'd like them to bring the intensity of a team looking for a turnaround.
"It was a good little wake up call," he said. "We were able to learn a lesson without learning the lesson of the loss. I really don't feel like, and I don't think our guys feel like, we won seven in a row based on what happened Saturday night."
The reality is, of course, that Utah has one of the biggest targets on its back. During its winning streak, it beat USC, whom it will face Thursday night in the Pac-12 quarterfinals. Trojan coach Andy Enfield is looking for his first win against the Utes after they spoiled USC's 15-0 home record earlier this season.
After beating UCLA 95-71 on Wednesday night, the Trojans quickly leapt forward to the challenge of knocking off the Utes, whom they hold in high esteem.
"They execute very well," freshman forward Bennie Boatwright said. "They don't take too many bad shots, and they don't beat themselves. It'll be a good game for us tomorrow."
So Utah is clearly a favorite. But searching for an edge for the postseason sometimes requires creating a chip on one's own shoulder, real or imagined. The Utes say the possibility of elimination is very real to them, especially with how last year's tournament run ended on a Joseph Young buzzer-beater against Oregon.
"I've learned it can be over just like that, like a snap of the fingers," said center Jakob Poeltl. "You can lose on a buzzer-beater like we did last year. You gotta just give it your hardest, because there's nothing to save your energy for. There's no point going half-speed."
Krystkowiak said he tabbed 15 first-half plays from Utah's first half against the Buffaloes, in which it trailed 21-20. The coaching staff showed them to the team as examples where poor execution led to bad shots and turnovers.
In the game, the Utes averaged 0.87 points per possession — well below their season average of 1.1 ppp that is No. 31 in the nation. Only its defense, which managed to hold the Buffs to an even less efficient rate, helped save them and helped spark the 19-0 run that put them ahead for good.
While it was meaningful for Utah to come back under such adverse circumstances, the Utes would prefer not to put themselves in that hole to begin with. Krystkowiak said his team has bought into the "coming off a loss" mentality that he's looking for, which gives him some confidence headed into the game.
"We've got some mature guys, some seniors, and I think this time of year, that starts paying dividends," he said. "But we can't assume something's going to be in the air because we've been here before. We've got to go make it happen."
The Utes practiced Wednesday morning at Impact Basketball Academy, a session that Krystkowiak said was mostly mental as the Utes try to stay physically fresh.
Krystkowiak said he enjoys the tournament atmosphere in Las Vegas, and the coaching staff does make a little time to watch "social basketball" of other Pac-12 games and other conference tournaments. But when the time comes to get down to business, the Utes said they'll be ready.
"We can flip the switch," Krystkowiak said. "Our staff has gotten pretty efficient at getting our work done, and you can get your work done a whole lot faster once you know who you're gonna play."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah vs. USC
P Pac-12 quarterfinals at MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Thursday, 7 p.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network —
No. 2 Utah vs. No. 7 USC
P MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Tipoff • 7:10 p.m. MST
TV • Pac-12 Networks
Radio • EPN 700 AM
Records • Utah 24-7, USC 21-11
Series history • Utah leads 20-17
Last meeting • Feb. 21, 2016 at USC; Utah 80, USC 69
About the Utes • Sophomore center Jakob Poeltl earned Pac-12 player of the year honors this week, and was also named to USA Today and Sporting News All American teams. … Larry Krystkowiak is 4-4 in the Pac-12 Tournament with the Utes, winning at least one game each of the past three tournaments. … Utah plays both ways as well as any team in the league, finishing first in FG percentage (.489) and second in FG percentage defense (.409).
About the Trojans • USC is looking for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011 and its first under coach Andy Enfield. … With an 95-71 win over UCLA, the Trojans swept the season's three-game series against their crosstown rival, all by double digits. … Entering the tournament, six USC players were averaging 10.0 or more points per game, and seven had scored at least 19 points in a game this season.