After a relatively easy week of practice because of a difficult week of test-taking, the Utah basketball team gets back into action with a breather against Adams State tonight at the Huntsman Center.

It's OK to call it a breather, because even Ute coach Rick Majerus acknowledges that's what it is - a guaranteed win against much-inferior competition. Adams State, an NAIA school in Alamoso, Colo., with an enrollment of 2,500, is just 1-5 after posting an 11-19 record last year.Majerus always schedules a weak non-Division I school as fodder for his team during test week because he doesn't want his players to have to practice hard to beat a decent team while concentrating on exams.

"It's our typical exam-week game, a game that there is no question we should win," said Majerus. "But if we come out and play like we did the first half against Weber, two things are going to happen. We could lose and we won't get better as players."

The 4-2 Utes are led by sophomore Keith Van Horn, who is averaging 20.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. JC transfer Brandon Jessie is second with a 15.3 average and will be trying to bounce back from his poorest performance as a Ute last week against Weber State.

Mark Rydalch, who has been rehabilitating from knee surgery for seven months, might see his first action this year and play a few minutes. Starting point guard Terry Preston, is expected to play after suffering a larynx contusion against Weber State. Freshman Michael Doleac is questionable because of an sprained ankle he suffered last week.

Ute players such as Doug Chapman, Ma Jian and Ryan Hunt, who played a lot last year but haven't played much this year, should see increased minutes in tonight's game.

Following tonight's game, the Utes' schedule picks up the pace as they play Chicago State at home Tuesday, Utah State in Logan Friday and home games against Cal-Fullerton and Northern Arizona the following week before starting WAC play the week after that.

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