CEDAR FALLS - Ben Jacobson was respectful all preseason, as countless pundits lobbed praise and hype his way.

Now, however, the Northern Iowa basketball coach is back in his true comfort zone, breaking down scouting reports.

After months of hearing how good they should be this season, Jacobson and the Panthers finally get to sink their teeth into something tangible Friday night, as they open their 2009-10 campaign at Denver.

"The guys are excited," Jacobson said Wednesday. "They're excited to get started, in general -- to be playing games that count now."

Lord knows the Panthers look imposing on paper.

UNI, 23-11 a year ago, returns its entire starting lineup. That means Adam Koch (12.1 points per game last year), Kwadzo Ahelegbe (11.8) and Jordan Eglseder (10.2) are back to torment opponents. ... And Ali Farokmanesh (9.6) and Johnny Moran (8.4), too, plus a potent bench crew.

But games aren't played on paper, and Jacobson knows this year's team will have a different identity than last year's NCAA Tournament qualifier.

"We do have good leadership on this team," said the fourth-year head coach. "But, in terms of the team and our identity and the chemistry of the team, those things do take some time to develop.

"It's going to be a four, five or six-week process -- like it is every year -- to develop roles."

Jacobson would like to see improved offense in Denver on Friday night. UNI averaged a respectable 73 points per game in two exhibition tilts, but looked lethargic in certain stretches.

"We're going to have to be sharp at the offensive end of the floor," said the coach. "The most important thing is for us to be able to go there and play with some confidence."

And, "on defense," said Ahelegbe recently, "we've really got to emphasize talking."

Denver went 15-16 last winter, and the Pioneers also return all five starters.

The Panthers open the season largely healthy, with one exception. Senior guard Brian Haak recently endured a stress fracture in a foot, which required a screw to be inserted near his fifth metatarsal bone. The injury, similar to one endured by former Panther guard Carlton Reed, will sideline Haak for 4-6 weeks.

Other than that, UNI enters a season of nearly unprecedented expectations with all ammunition at the ready. But Jacobson wants his players to wear blinders, concentrating on incremental improvement.

"All the stuff from the (preseason) ... and all the polls, really that was done a couple weeks ago," Jacobson insisted. "Our guys have just been tuned-in at practice. For the last couple weeks, it's just been about getting better."