The strength of this year's Utah basketball team was supposed to be its depth.
It still may be, but the Utes' depth will be tested early due to a rash of injuries that have hit the team during a month of preseason practice.When the Utes open their season Tuesday (7 p.m. KJZZ-TV) against Arkansas State in the Huntsman Center, they will be missing two starters with several others not playing at full strength.
The biggest loss will be forward Hanno Mottola, a two-year starter, who is the team's top returning scorer. Mottola suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in Utah's 70-68 loss to the California All-Stars last Tuesday and is expected to be out six weeks.
Starting center Nate Althoff has missed all but a handful of practices this fall with back problems and he isn't likely to see much, if any, action. Phil Cullen, expected to start at center in Althoff's place, missed some practices last week with a sprained ankle, while backup point guard Trent Whiting has missed half of the practices so far. Also, Adam Sharp, a key reserve last year, has been slowed by a broken leg suffered in the summer.
"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do," said Ute coach Rick Majerus. "I'll have to play it by ear during the game."
Majerus said two players who may not have seen action otherwise, forward Mike Puzey and guard Gary Colbert, will both have to play tonight. He was still undecided on whether or not he would redshirt freshman Nick Jacobson.
Alex Jensen, Jeff Johnsen and Cullen will start inside with Tony Harvey and Jeremy Killion on the guardline.
Arkansas State is led by 5-6 guard Chico Fletcher, who scored 21 against Utah in last year's NCAA loss.
The winner of tonight's game will face the winner of the Kentucky-Penn game Friday night in the second round of the Preseason NIT.