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Las Vegas • There will be bigger games than this on the MGM Grand Garden Arena Court for Utah.

At least, that's the hope.

The No. 14 Runnin' Utes (7-2) arrive in Sin City with considerable hype after going 2-1 in one of the toughest stretches of their season. On Saturday night, they'll play on the court where they last suffered a 32-point loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament in March.

Being on the same floor is a reminder of all Utah hopes to accomplish this year, but the program can take a step in the direction of more March success by getting a win there against UNLV (7-2) in the upcoming Coaches vs. Cancer game on ESPN2. Getting a victory helps wash the defeat - both recent and in seasons past - out of their mouths.

"It'll be a tough game going on the road," Delon Wright said. "We'll have to play our best."

Utah might've played its best last time out, but only for a half. The Utes ceded an 18-point halftime lead to Kansas in Kansas City before rallying all the way back. In the end, late-game execution hamstrung the Utes, resulting in a 63-60 loss.

What awaits is another "neutral" court game that is in the opponent's backyard. Utah should be growing accustomed to hostile venues, having been to San Diego State, BYU and the Staples Center already this year.

The focus this week, however, is very much internal. Krystkowiak said at the start of the week that he planned on tinkering with starters and lineups after Utah's first loss in seven games. The goal is to steady the extreme momentum tilts that have plagued the Utes throughout the first third of the season.

Krystkowiak said Thursday he was waiting for Friday's practice at the MGM to determine his final adjustments, but that he has a better feel for how his players mix with each other.

"We divided our squad a little more evenly this week, whereas maybe in weeks before we had some of the young kids on a team together and the first team was taking it to them," he said. "It's going to be positive. Our staff has had a chance to evaluate and see different combinations and the effectiveness of those combinations. We think we know who is clicking together."

Among the more pressing issues that "reared their heads" against Kansas: cutting back on turnovers, guarding the right assignments in transition, and shooting better from the outside. Even before losing a week ago, these were issues for Utah, but defeat has a way of magnifying those errors.

UNLV is a team that's lost to Pac-12 foes Stanford and Arizona State this season, but has defended the paint extremely well. The team is second in blocks per game and only is allowing opponents to shoot 40.1 percent on two-point attempts. The Rebels are led by freshman guard Rashad Vaughn, but he has struggled to shoot at times this year.

There's some other advantages in the contest for Utah: The coaching staff flew in early and has been recruiting for the Tarkanian Classic, a high school tournament that includes Utah teams. Utah also gets the chance to scout Washington, who plays Oklahoma in the first game of the MGM doubleheader.

Twitter: @kylegoon -

No. 14 Utah vs. UNLV

O Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase

Tip-off • 9:30 p.m. MT

TV • ESPN2

Radio • ESPN 700 AM

Records • Utah (7-2); UNLV (7-2)

Series history • UNLV leads, 24-22

Last meeting • March 5, 2011; UNLV 78, Utah 58