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Film study and game-planning never holds as much appeal as when the season is just starting.

The Runnin' Utes have spent the last month and a half beating up each other in practice, getting to know each panel and step in the Huntsman Center as they trod over them day after day.

But real opponents? Division I opponents? At last?

"There's a little something different in the air, I think, for everybody," coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "This is the first time where we're laying out some in front of them. That's one of the facets of being successful: You've got to have the mental preparation for it."

The No. 25-ranked Utes tip off the season against the visiting Ball State Cardinals on Friday night at the Huntsman Center. To hear Krystkowiak tell it, Utah is expecting quite a fight from a team that was 5-25 last year under a new coach. They do bring back the MAC Freshman of the Year in Zavier Turner, who scored 15 points last season on Utah, and add a JuCo All-American in Bik Gill in the frontcourt.

The duel with Ball State shouldn't be memorable if all goes according to plan for Utah, but the game, and the start of the season, offers the first big gauge of where the team is mentally. Krystkowiak and his staff have placed preseason emphasis on not buying into "Kool Aid hype" as he's termed it — rankings, preseason prognostications and any accolade Utah has been given before it's earned.

There's plenty to challenge Utah's focus as the season begins. They're a young team, and are expected to feature at least a few of their five scholarship newcomers. There's the hype machine, daring them to become complacent. Then there's the arena they'll play at next week: Viejas Arena, where they'll challenge No. 16 San Diego State and one of the most respected cheering sections in college basketball.

It's a situation set up to trick the Utes into putting Ball State on the back burner. But it's not going to happen, junior Jordan Loveridge said. It's a Friday game at Huntsman Center, and the Utes want to show what they can do.

"I'm not sure what kind of statement you can make off of one game," he said. "But we want to show just that we are prepared for this season and we're ready to go."

With its only public test last week against DIII Pacific (Ore.) to work from, Utah likes what it has. Utah shot well, played mostly suffocating defense and most importantly only turned the ball over four times. Krystkowiak said he actually got a better impression from the film of Pacific than when he was watching the game live.

But in these early weeks, there will be some constant questions. Can Utah rebound better, especially on the defensive end? Can they knock down 3-pointers? Will the youth movement, including players like Jakob Poeltl and Brekkott Chapman, be able to get up to speed quickly?

The answers start coming Friday night. That's why Ball State is so important.

"We were able to get the rust off, and everybody could get a feeling of what this year could be like," senior Dallin Bachynski said. "I think there's a lot of anticipation, a lot of excitement; we're ready to get going. I think all of us are ready for Ball State coming up."

kgoon@sltrib.com Twitter: @kylegoon —

Ball State at No. 25 Utah

P At the Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City

Tipoff • 8 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Networks (Free online, no subscription required)

Radio • ESPN 700 AM