Practice Notes (Football and Basketball)

Who knows how many more days like today the football Cougars will have for practice, but what an amazing autumn afternoon in Provo. A day like today will be a welcome memory if the weather forecast for Saturday holds true...

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First of all, WRs Austin Collie (finger) and O'Neill Chambers (ankle) were practicing will little to no ill effects of their Tuesday injuries. More tonight from Bronco. Chambers' parents were present once again.

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A reporter from USA Today was on hand at today's practice. I left before practice ended, but she interviewed my broadcast partner Marc Lyons for the feature.

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LB David Nixon (leg/ankle) and DB Scott Johnson (thigh) were practicing, while WR Spencer Hafoka (foot) has yet to make his return. Since Bronco needs to see a player practice no later than Thursday to be able to play on Saturday, Hafoka's chances of playing versus New Mexico would appear iffy.

LBs Terrance Hooks and Grant Nelson remain on target for returns at TCU. Nelson in particular is said to be ready to be ready for everything but perhaps hard cuts or stops that might be required on special teams units. Relative to his general inside linebacking responsibilities, I am told Hooks can do pretty much all he is required to do. Nelson is operating at essentially a "full go."

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Turns out both TE Dennis Pitta and RB Harvey Unga suffered slight shoulder separations in the Wyoming game. The bye week helped both players recover in time for Utah State.

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BYU Basketball coaches were present with the players for a sanctioned practice session this afternoon. A few observations...

: Noah Hartsock was back after resting a tweaked ankle Tuesday. He looked fine--nothing remarkable one way or the other.

: Chris Miles gives BYU a very different post look this season. He may not be as productive as Trent Plaisted, but he may be more effective. While he doesn't have the same set of tools that Plaisted possessed, Miles is more versatile, with a midrange jumper and a turnaround fadeaway in addition to his inside arsenal. And if there's one thing I really appreciate about Miles, it's his motor--it's always running. He is an intense competitor and will bring a tangible toughness to the center spot this season.

: Jonathan Tavernari is as hard a worker as BYU has ever had, and his summer with the Bazilian national team has exponentially aided his development and maturity. Playing with pros, learning new things, and serving as a role player with established national team fixtures gave Tavernari a perspective that can only benefit him as a collegian. Coaches tell me his all-around game is really coming together, but make no mistake, he's on the floor to score baskets, and his talents in that regard cannot be overvalued. He was an all-MWC third-teamer in 2007-08, but don't be surprised if he has the kind of season that gets him first team votes by the end of the 2008-09 campaign. If BYU three-peats as outright conference champs this year, it might be because Lee Cummard and Tavernari will have been two of the five best players in the league.

: In a 4-on-4 drill in which players were instructed to penetrate whenever possible, Jimmer Fredette was perhaps the most consistent driver and scorer. He just has a knack of getting to the paint, and knowing what to do once he gets there.