BYU basketball: Team to show off skills at Cougar Tipoff

PROVO — Cougar fans who want to mix a little basketball in with their football cravings can get their first official look at the 2008-09 BYU men's basketball team tonight at the annual Cougar Tipoff.

The scrimmage at the Marriott Center is free to the public with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the game starting at 7.

After 10 days of practice, coach Dave Rose said the Cougars are anxious to start playing some games.

"These guys like to practice for an hour and then play," Rose said jokingly, then added. "It will be different when we actually put the uniforms on, turn the lights on and play. That's something that's exciting for them."

The Cougars return starters Jonathan Tavernari and Lee Cummard from their back-to-back Mountain West Conference champion teams, but need to fill holes at both guard positions and the center spot.

"Those are two positions that we really need to solidify," said Rose, whose Cougars were picked to finish second in the MWC in a preseason poll of coaches and media representatives.

Tonight's scrimmage will not only showcase the team to the fans, but help the coaching staff better identify which players belong in the Cougars' main rotation. The Cougars also have exhibition games on Nov. 6 and Nov. 11 against Concordia University and Georgetown College respectively.

"After each one of those exhibition games there will another evaluation process," Rose said. "We're looking for the 10 to 12 guys who we can put at two or three different spots."

The tipoff not only features a full-length men's team scrimmage, but an introduction of the BYU women's basketball team, a two-ball shooting contest and meet-the-team autograph signings with both the men's and women's teams with free team posters. Gifts and prizes will be awarded during the night.

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E-mail: jimr@desnews.com