The Utes return home this week after a tough loss in Boulder on Friday night. To quote a former Utah coach, "Ball didn't go in the hoop." Utah shot 30% from the field and from three point range. I expect that number to be higher at home.

Stanford is up first and the Trees are an interesting team. They come in at 13-11 with an RPI of 81, and an SOS of 25. All of their best wins are in conference, and 6 of their 11 losses are to teams in the top 50 of the RPI (UCLA is just outside at present at 56). They also have four guys that average in double figures (Travis, Humphrey, Pickens, and Davis).

Utah counters with a record of 13-9 and an RPI of 54, SOS of 46. The Ute's RPI got a boost with Washington and Missouri winning over the weekend, moving up to 35 and 31 respectively, though a trip to Seattle looms large for the squad next week. This will be a big opportunity for Jayce Johnson, because I think Reid Travis is going to have his way with Collette and get him into early foul trouble. The young big man is going to have to really step up in this game if we have a chance to win. Our guards are also going to have to play well and score, score, score. Barefield and Bibbins need to be hot from the three and we need some help from our bench.

Cal will be here on Saturday, and they are a shell of last year's team. They began the year taking Witchita St. to the wire in Maui, but since then have not played well, bringing with them a record of 7-6 and an RPI of 175. This is a game that only helps us in the win column, and nothing more.

Best case scenario for the weekend: Utah, Colorado, and Stanford all finish the weekend 7-6.

The rest of the league faces a big weekend as well, with Arizona and ASU hosting UCLA and USC respectively, that's three of the top four teams and the number seven team that is playing with some desperation, trying to cling to a tourney bid.

Also, the Oregon schools face the Washington schools in Oregon, so we'll see if the Huskies ride their momentum, or come back to earth.

It is one of only two weekends left where all of the teams play 2 games.