Some distressing news for BYU basketball fans coming out of the Cougars' practice today at the Marriott Center.
Forward Chris Collinsworth, who has not been starting but has been averaging nearly six points and six rebounds a game off the bench, missed the practice to have his knee examined by a doctor.
"Yeah, he went to the doctor. He has an issue with his knee, and wanted to get it checked out today.
I thought he would be here before the end of practice, but obviously he must have got hung up a little bit," coach Dave Rose said.
I asked Rose about the seriousness of the ailment and whether Collinsworth will play against UNLV on Wednesday night.
"We will have to hear what the doctor has come up with, and then we will have to figure out what is going to happen," the coach said.
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I will have more from practice later tonight or tomorrow, but suffice it to say the Cougars are getting ready for one of their biggest games of the season.
"It's going to be like an NCAA Tournament game," said Jackson Emery.
Emery said he practiced for all but about 15 minutes on Monday, but doesn't know whether he will start or not. He's been coming off the bench the last few games because one of Rose's rules is that players who don't complete a full practice, don't play. Emery is still nursing a sore shin.
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Rose wouldn't bite when I asked him if UNLV has become BYU's biggest basketball rival, but he smiled and acknowledged that the game is "absolutely huge." He said he has discussed the fact with his team that BYU hasn't won at UNLV since 2005, but noted that they are not making a big deal out of it.
"This is a different team," he said.
Rose was also asked if he has had any talks with UNLV about continuing the series once BYU leaves the MWC for the West Coast Conference.
He said he hasn't spoken specifically to any MWC schools (besides Utah) about playing next year, or beyond. But he didn't say he was against it, either.