While coach Jim Boylen was assessing tonight's home game against the rival Brigham Young Cougars -- he said beating them is a crucial step in the rebuilding process -- he expressed his belief that "it's going to come down to support players" in determining who wins.

"We talk about BYU and their three-headed monster they have, with Tavernari, Fredette and Cummard," he said. "But Emery, to me, is an unbelivable addition for them -- his toughness, speed, quickness. He's a ball-hawk type guy. He's a loose-ball type guy. And then Miles has improved greatly and McGregor has improved greatly, and Morgan has improved. So, to me, they have nine solid, solid guys. ... In a way, they might be deeper than last year."

Still, Boylen believes his Utes are better than they were a year ago, too, and the oddsmakers agree, making them a 3 1/2-point favorite at the Huntsman Center.

"We're both good," Boylen said, "and that makes it better."

It will be interesting to see whether the game sells out, with the Jazz playing at home against the Spurs tonight and a full schedule of high school games around the valley. The Utes did not sell out last season's game, which they lost 55-52 after point guard Luka Drca missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw opportunity and fellow guard Tyler Kepkay put up an airball on a desperation drive in the final seconds.

Another player who did not have a spectacular game last year was center Luke Nevill, who has been playing much better as he approaches the end of his college career. But he doesn't have BYU's Trent Plaisted to kick around anymore, so it will be fascinating to see how the Cougars try to defend him in the post. Single coverage probably isn't going to do it ...

And if Boylen's right that "support players" probably will determine the outcome, we're probably talking about somebody like Drca, guard Lawrence Borha or even forward Kim Tillie needing to make the difference for the Utes.