This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Just how damaged, if at all, was the psyche of the No. 12 Runnin' Utes in their 69-51 loss to No. 7 Arizona in Tucson last Saturday?

We may learn something about that by the end of Wednesday night.

Utah is favored by more than three touchdowns at home against Washington State, but a half-hearted effort could conceivably spell disaster against the high-tempo Cougars, who've beaten Washington and Cal on the road and whose only losses in their last seven games have been to Oregon State and Stanford — no slouches.

On the other hand, an as-expected Utah blowout would cleanse the Utes' palate, keep them tied for first in the Pac-12, and ensure they're fresh when 13-4 Washington visits Sunday evening.

Time, Place and [radio waves in] Space • The Utes will be wearing white, as will informed Ute fans for a whiteout promotion during the 7 p.m. tip at the Huntsman Center on Wednesday night. The game will air on Pac-12 Networks — called by Spero Dedes and Matt Muehlebach — and on the radio, as always, on ESPN 700 with Bill Riley and Jimmy Soto.

Opposing Coach • After working as a studio analyst for Pac-12 Networks, Ernie Kent said "I feel like a big bear that has been in hibernation." Five games into the conference slate, the first-year Wazzu head coach already has more Pac-12 wins than Washington State managed all last season. Known for an exciting brand of basketball that took Oregon to two Elite Eights in his 12 years at the helm from 1997 to 2010, Kent has overhauled the Cougars' offense and empowered sophomore forward Josh Hawkinson and sophomore guard Ike Iroegbu, who now look like stars in the making.

Telling Stat • According to KenPom.com, Washington State's adjusted tempo ranks 35th in the nation, at 69 possessions per game. That's up from 336th last season, at 62.1, and likely responsible for the team's surge from 62.4 points per game in 2013-14 to 71.8 points per game this season. That's the idea of Kent's scheme — to run harder than the other guys — and the early returns have been positive.

Pregame Quotable • "We always have ghosts floating around this arena, but it doesn't guarantee a win." — Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak on the superlative and apparently supernatural Utes, 11-0 at home and winners of their last 13 at the Huntsman Center.

Cougars Roster Overview • Six guys average six or more points and 10 have played 11.6 or more minutes per game, but the undisputed leader is senior guard DaVonte Lacy, who is averaging 17.4 points on just 11.6 shot attempts and earning 6.8 free-throw attempts per game. Hawkinson, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Shoreline, Wash., saw few meaningful minutes as a freshman but has emerged as one of the conference's top big men, scoring 15.4 points per game and snatching a conference-best 11 boards per game. And Iroegbu is a lightning-fast guard perfectly suited for Kent's preferred pace, with a penchant for rising to the occasion. Against No. 13 Gonzaga last year, in his third-ever game, he had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. This year, with the Bulldogs ranked No. 9, he scored 14 on 5-of-8 shooting.

Something's Gotta Give • The naturally opposed forces here are Washington State's blossoming offense and Utah's stingy defense, which has conceded just 56.1 points per game. If you were given even money, Utah's defense would be the wise bet. Oregon State, a similarly challenging defense under former Krystkowiak assistant Wayne Tinkle, held the Cougars to 47 points in Pullman, just two days after they scored 108 in an overtime win against Oregon. Kent's offense is still a work in progress, while Krystkowiak's defense is a well-oiled machine.

Washington State's Edge • If there's an obvious edge, it's probably only in the unlikely scenario that Utah's confidence was so shaken by Arizona that they continue to be reactors, and not actors, as Krystkowiak says. But given that Utah's playing at home and that Washington State is a vastly different team than Arizona, it might also feel (to lean on a cross-sport metaphor) like Utah's removed the donut from the bat.

Utah's Edge • Offense, defense, etc., but also rebounding. Washington State's 10th-place conference standing in rebounds per game (34.3) is concerning for Kent, given its aforementioned bevy of possessions. Despite Hawkinson's stellar play, the Cougars are being outrebounded by .8 per game, while the Utes — despite being outrebounded 40 to 19 by the Wildcats — are second-best in the conference at plus-6.9. Second-chance points will be hard to come by for WSU, so it will be critical for Kent's team that they make their first shots count.

Watch Out For • What's left? Let's go with Krystkowiak's attire. He had a red jacket tailored for his trip to BYU. Does he have something in white and if so, will his players understand our sure-to-follow "Miami Vice" references?

— Matthew Piper

Twitter: @matthew_piper