CINCINNATI -- Earlier this week, Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak called 13th-ranked Xavier a "a well-oiled machine that could easily be a Final Four team."

By March, Krystkowiak might be right. But, the Musketeers that the Utes will face on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET) at Cintas Center remain a work in progress.

After dropping a 68-66 decision at Colorado on Wednesday, Xavier (7-2) has lost two straight games for the first time since February 2015. Turnovers, poor free-throw shooting and bad decisions late in losses to the Buffaloes and at fourth-ranked Baylor have brought the Musketeers back to Earth.

"It's early in the season so we aren't going to pack our tent and quit playing," said head coach Chris Mack. "We got a reality check the last couple times. We are willing to go on the road and play in games like this but you can get penalized too. Our team has to grow up from these types of experiences because they aren't fun."

The good news for Xavier is that it can unpack the suitcases for a while. Saturday's game against Utah (6-1) begins a stretch of four straight home games.

It will be the first meeting between Utah and Xavier and is one of 15 games -- including seven non-conference -- for the Musketeers against teams that reached last season's NCAA Tournament.

The Utes have five players averaging in double figures, led by junior forward Kyle Kuzma, who's averaging 16.4 points and 11 rebounds.

Utah is outrebounding its opponents by more than 14 per game. The Utes shoot just 31 percent from 3-point range while allowing their opponents to shoot 33 percent.

Xavier presents a formidable test for the Utes, who have faced just one ranked opponent this season, losing 68-59 to 16th-ranked Butler at home.

"I think most seasons for everybody are about learning lessons and growing," Krystkowiak told the Salt Lake Tribune. "To be able to learn some pretty valuable lessons without a loss is always a positive thing, especially when you're trying to get something going."

The Musketeers are riding the hot hand of junior guard Trevon Bluiett who's scored at least 23 points in each of his past three games. At Colorado, Bluiett scored 27 points, going 6 of 13 from 3-point range with three assists, and two steals. He's averaging 19.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals.

Mack is trying different combinations at the five. Senior Rashid Gaston got the nod at Colorado and responded with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

But, for the Musketeers to get going, they badly need junior guard J.P. Macura to get on track.

In losses to Colorado and Baylor, Macura was a combined 1-for-11 from 3-point range and 5-for-25 shooting overall.

"He tends to at times play out of our system," Mack said. "You know it is tough because you want to give some freedom because he plays so hard. But at times that freedom bites him in the tail."

The Musketeers hope that returning to Cintas Center, where they are 220-31 all-time, will help get things back on the winning track. Xavier has not lost a regular-season non-conference game at home since falling to Wofford on Dec. 22, 2012.