Cougars are banging heads at practice
The BYU Cougar men’s basketball team is showing the effects of a hard first week of practices. Freshman Tyler Haws took a hit to the knee last weekend and has played through it, until Thursday, when he sat out the scrimmage portion because the knee has started to swell. Coach Dave Rose said trainers expect the swelling to go down and expect Haws to be back in action in a couple of days. Brock Zylstra and Jonathan Tavernari collided heads in Wednesday’s practice, and Zylstra suffered a mild concussion and did not practice on Thursday. Jackson Emery missed two days of practice with a bruised thigh but was back practicing on Thursday. Chris Miles missed a day of practice earlier in the week with the flu, but he was also back at practice on Thursday.
Rose said he’s seen steady play so far from returning starters Jonathan Tavernari, Jimmer Fredette and Emery, but that the other players look great at times and not so great at times.
“We’ve had certain individuals that have looked great at times, but what our staff is really looking for is more consistency day after day,” Rose said.
Some players, as is human nature, might be trying a little too hard to impress the coaches.
“Especially the guys who are really trying to change their role, and the new players too,” Rose said.
The coaches are watching film post practice every day and evaluating how each player is progressing.
“We’re trying to see who is learning the system, and those are the guys who will probably be ahead when we get started,” Rose said.
With early signing day less than four weeks away, mum is the word on who BYU might get other than Provo High’s Kyle Collinsworth, who verbally committed a couple of weeks ago.
“We’re involved with quite a few guys . . . and we’re trying to do what’s best for our roster,” Rose said.
A couple of personal notes on the team: Chris Miles’ wife Ashley gave birth to a baby girl, Taimi, on Oct. 12. In September, senior Jonathan Tavernari got married to Kiri Reynolds of West Jordan. Coach Rose has given the scholarship vacated by the departure of Matt Pinegar to Zylstra for this season, which puts all 13 roster players on scholarship.