It has been tough for the No. 11 Washington men's basketball team to stay out of the trap of looking ahead on the schedule. Following the Idaho game, it was Jon Brockman who said that it "has been a mentally tough thing to do."

The Huskies (6-0) will have to do it one more time against Southern Utah tonight.

With the Gonzaga contest looming on the horizon, the game against the Thunderbirds (6-2) will be a test of will for a young and inexperienced team.

"We're going to focus on Southern Utah," Brockman said. "We're going to try and not think about [the Bulldogs]."

The easiest way to do that will be for the UW to continue to improve its own performance. Against Idaho, it went a long way toward fixing its problem of protecting the ball by cutting down turnovers.

Early in the season, the Huskies averaged more than 20 a game, but were responsible for only 12 against the Vandals.

Coach Lorenzo Romar will challenge his team to continue to improve in that area against a small and fast Southern Utah team. In its eight games, SUU has forced 114 turnovers — 14.3 per game — and will try to do the same against the Huskies tonight.

The Thunderbirds also bring to the table a deft touch from beyond the arc.

"They concern you with their ability to shoot the three," Romar said. "They don't really go inside, and you have to be aware that they have multiple shooters on the outside."

Southern Utah boasts six shooters who average over 45 percent from 3-point range. Two of those, Orlando Griego (and Nurudeen Adepoju are 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-5 forwards, respectively.

The team's leading scorer, Steve Barnes — who averages 13.9 points and 5.7 assists per game — has already proven himself against a good opponent. In a win over Utah, Barnes scored 17 points and shot 3-for-4 from beyond the arc in the upset.

"They've beaten quality opponents," said freshman Spencer Hawes. "I just have to be more aggressive boxing my man out."

With such a small opponent, there will be an opportunity for the Huskies to rebound effectively, just as they did in their last game when they out-rebounded Idaho 50 to 26.

After winning its first six home games, Washington will try to close out its baseball-sized home stand with another victory.

It has not been the smoothest of sailing for the Huskies, with some close calls against lesser competition — Northern Iowa has been their only opponent in the top-50 of the ratings percentage index.

"I think it's getting there," Hawes said. "With as many young guys as we have, we are still trying to feel out each other's game. As the season goes along we will get better."

Romar has been careful with his team to this point, not allowing them to gear up for the rival Bulldogs just yet. He called the Thunderbirds and their outside shooting another test for his team.

"We try not to talk about what's two or three days down the road," he said. "We are facing something new, and every time we face something new, it's going to be a challenge."

Reporter Justin Chartrey: justinchartrey@thedaily.washington.edu