Bad is getting catastrophically worse for the Colorado State Rams, who visit the Utes tonight at the Huntsman Center hoping to snap a 15-game losing streak.

While the Utes plan to honor outgoing seniors Johnnie Bryant, Chris Grant and Sayre Brennan before the game, it looks like senior center Stuart Creason and junior guard Willis Gardner both might not play for the Rams because of injuries. Creason evidently has experienced a recurrence of the stress fracture in his foot that kept him out of nine games earlier this season, while Gardner separated his shoulder for the second time in six games against San Diego State last weekend.

All that, in addition to already being without backup center Ronnie Aguilar, himself having suffered a stress fracture.

"Without Stu, we have no power forwards and no centers," coach Tim Miles said. "When we go with a lineup of guards and wings, we're just so vulnerable."

And so different from what the Utes were expecting.

Coach Jim Boylen spoke at length about how big a difference Creason makes to the Rams, who are trying to avoid becoming the first team since San Diego State eight years ago to go winless through the league season. The 7-foot senior is one of the few players in the league who can match up with Utah's Luke Nevill, and he averages 12.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. Meanwhile, Gardner has averaged 10.1 points in a steady role.

"They're a much different team from the first time we played them," Boylen said.

Maybe not, as it turns out.

The Utes already were a 17-point favorite, even before the latest injury news came out. They won the previous meeting 67-52 in Fort Collins, in a game after which Miles complained that his players provided an embarrassing lack of effort.