This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Breaking out the basketballs for the first day of fall practice has significance, Jordan Loveridge said. It's important in its own right.
But if he's being honest, it's not the practices he's looking forward to.
"For me it's just more exciting because it means the games are just right around the corner." he said. "It's preparing for something as opposed to just preparing to prepare."
The Runnin' Utes broke into the season with their first practice on Friday, and they are well aware higher expectations that come from bringing back its top six scorers from last year's 21-12 squad.
There are a lot of long-term goals: better offensive execution, more road success, and finally breaking through to the NCAA tournament.
But first things first: Coach Larry Krystkowiak said he was pleased with what he saw out of the group that is has the most veteran carryover of any team he has coached at Utah.
"There's some enthusiasm and some consistency with those guys coming back," he said. "I still think the first practice of the year has some butterflies. Hopefully some of that lifts up and we get it out of the way."
Among the top returners is Delon Wright, an all-Pac-12 senior guard who took at hard look at entering the NBA last year before electing to return. Loveridge and Brandon Taylor are two other of the top returning scorers, and Dallin Bachyski and Jeremy Olsen bring back size. But the Utes also bring in a heralded new batch of recruits, including forwards Kyle Kuzma and Brekkott Chapman.
The coaching staff has gotten a good feel for their players in the two hours a week they've gotten to work with them in the offseason. Krystkowiak said he's also been satisfied with the team's conditioning: All of the Utes completed a conditioning test last week, with the exception of JuCo transfer Chris Reyes who is recovering from an unspecified knee injury.
In fact, Krystkowiak said, many of those new to the group have done well in the offseason. While the grind of daily two-and-a-half hour practice sessions will start to wear on the newcomers, Krystkowiak said he wouldn't rule out starting two or three freshmen this year.
"I like our guys, all of them maybe a little bit ahead of where I anticipated," he said. "It's about how you handle it when a couple of these stack up and what you keep bringing to the table on a consistent basis."
Loveridge said the group has blended together well through summer sessions, and said that competition is tougher than he's seen at the start of the year.
One of the team's big goals is to develop endurance late in games, as well as pushing through the end of the season. Last year, the Utes fell flat in the NIT against St. Mary's, giving up a late edge in the loss.
Loveridge said the team hopes to address that. It starts with making sure they can last a whole practice as they ramp up to their Nov. 14 opener against Ball State.
"For some guys, it's about getting their bodies used to going longer, and it's also mental," he said. "But it's good to get back out there."
Twitter: @kylegoon
Utes' key dates
Monday • Men's basketball media day
Oct. 21 • Night with the Runnin' Utes, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 • Exhibition vs. Pacific (Ore.), 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 • Home opener vs. Ball State, 8 p.m.
Jan. 2 • Conference opener vs. USC, 8 p.m.