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BYU fans get their first look at the 2012-13 Cougar hoopsters Wednesday night at the Marriott Center, with the staging of the annual "Cougar Tipoff" intra-squad game.
Head coach Dave Rose says "we'll split 'em up even and then play" two 20-minutes halves, with a running clock except for free throws and the final minute of each half.
"Hopefully, we'll get some people here," Rose said of the free-to-the-public event, "and the guys can kind of feel what it's like on a game day, and we can get some good work in against each other."
Just how many of his roster players will take part is a bit of a question mark. Stephen Rogers (knee) and Anson Winder (ankle) sat out Tuesday's practice, while Brandon Davies was limited with what Rose called a "really sore back." Nate Austin has missed recent practices with a quad injury but has been on the floor this week.
Rose said having players sit out "kind of gives you a little bit of anxiety, because you want more consistency, but for the most part I think the guys are doing all right."
"I think they're all pretty common things that will work themselves out," said Rose of the players' various maladies. "I hope so, anyways."
Re: Rogers, Rose said that after a Friday practice and Saturday scrimmage, there was swelling in Rogers' surgically-repaired knee; he went to see the team doctor today.
You can hear Rose's post-practice media session in "Cougar Cuts," above left.
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Asked if the team is on or ahead of schedule after a week and a half of six-days-a-week practices, Rose said "there are some things that we're doing really well."
"I think offensively, we have a pretty good idea and understanding. Defensively, it's taking a little bit longer. We're trying to put two separate defenses in (zone, in addition to man), so it's a little more complicated."
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Rose said he always looks forward to the "Cougar Tipoff" to see how his players react to a game-like scenario. "Everybody has a different approach to them when you turn the lights on and put people in the crowd," said Rose after practice on Tuesday.
"Some of those situations are really, really positive, and others need some work, so we'll just see how that goes."
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Wednesday night's "Cougar Tipoff" is set for a 7:00pm tipoff; there is no radio coverage, but the game can be seen on byutvsports.com; KSL Newsradio's live game coverage will get underway with Friday night's exhibition opener v. SE Oklahoma State.
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