TONIGHT, 8 p.m.

EUGENE, Ore. - Jerry Sloan hasn't written a term paper in 40 years, but he can relate to the college student's workload these days. Two weeks before his project - the 2005-06 Jazz - is due, the coach is nearly finished researching what he needs to know and is eager to start crafting the final product.

But it looks like he is definitely going to crowd the deadline.

Without Carlos Boozer and Matt Harpring ready to assume their roles, Sloan is left in limbo, unable to glimpse how these pieces eventually will fit together. The Jazz reach the midpoint of their exhibition schedule tonight, with a game against the Trail Blazers in the University of Oregon's McArthur Court (8 p.m. MDT, no TV), and two of their top three scorers from a year ago have yet to pull on a jersey.

Are this year's Jazz stronger than a year ago? Can they improve on a 26-win season?

"I have no idea," Sloan said Wednesday. "I think we can be a very good team if all the things fall into place. . . . There [are] some things we've done pretty well, and that gets you excited a little bit for when guys come back. We'll just have to see what happens."

Boozer still is sidelined by a strained hamstring, and hasn't practiced in 10 days. He will sit out his fourth preseason game tonight. "It's getting better, day by day," he said. "It's coming along."

Harpring, recovering from knee surgery in April, has been cleared to practice, but he hasn't played yet either. And he's not on this trip, having returned to Atlanta for the funeral of his friend, Hawks center Jason Collier.

That leaves Sloan to finish evaluating the newcomers, and consider another round of cuts. And wait a little longer to find out what he's got.

The coach is optimistic about Boozer's return, whenever it occurs. The Jazz's restructured offense, which Boozer has yet to operate in, should feed him the ball down low more frequently this season. "Quite frankly, we kind of felt like it would help him, maybe get him some opportunities," Sloan said. But there is no way to know yet.

Making matters worse, Sloan said, once Boozer finally returns, the forward and his teammates will go through a natural readjustment process, which delays the team's development even further.

"The biggest problem is, he's going to try to push to be the guy he was, and sometimes that doesn't happen for a couple of weeks," the coach said. "Now he gets frustrated with me, frustrated with all those things. Those are the things I have to deal with."

Sloan suggested he might even deal with it by not starting Boozer right away. He faced the same decision last season, when Keith McLeod directed the Jazz to a 5-1 start, but was benched once Carlos Arroyo's sprained ankle healed. The team promptly tanked.

"I have to make the decision: Should I play him now or let him work himself in?" Sloan said. Last year, "if I had the decision to make all over again, I may have just stayed with Keith because the team was playing well. . . . I've known for years that's what other teams had to deal with."

As the clock ticks closer to opening night, Sloan knows his job is growing more urgent. For now, he is content to wait, figuring Boozer's and Harpring's futures are more important than rushing back for the present.

"I'm not going to panic," he said.

Briefly

Andrei Kirilenko returned to practice Wednesday after missing Tuesday's workout to have his jaw examined. The forward was struck during Monday's game against Phoenix and still could feel the effects a day later, but said he was fine on Wednesday. . . . The NBA's new dress code had its first visible effect on Wednesday: Sloan conducted interviews at practice without his customary John Deere cap. The league has banned all headgear during team functions and appearances.

pmiller@sltrib.com