The Utes have landed safely in El Paso, so now all they have to do is find a way to cope with UTEP's dangerous Stefon Jackson in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational on Wednesday night.

Jackson ranks seventh nationally by scoring 23.7 points per game, and is pretty much the engine that drives the Miners -- having amazingly persevered through his brother's murder, a broken jaw inflicted by a teammate, and his paralyzed father's unexpected death.

"He's so powerful, and plays with such force," coach Jim Boylen said. "He's a little bit like Giddens, as far as playing at full speed and being able to make plays at full speed."

But though Jackson is listed as the same height as New Mexico's J.R. Giddens -- just skinnier -- Boylen views him as not quite the kind of player that has really hurt the Utes this season. "He's not that 6-6 guy that we've really struggled with this year," Boylen said. "Wade, Cummard and Giddens ... I'll have nightmares all summer from those three guys."

Not many teams have slowed Jackson this season, however.

Only once has the junior from Philadelphia failed to score in double-figures, and that came when he shot 3-for-12 and scored nine points in a loss at Texas Tech two months ago. He plays almost every minute of every game, and can be unstoppable getting to the free-throw line.

Though Jackson has attempted just seven foul shots in the last three games while shooting 21-for-50, he shot an astonishing 21-for-27 from the line in a victory over East Carolina last month. He also has scored over 20 points 24 times this season -- with a high of 41 and four other 30-point games.