Guard Barnett takes elbow to nose

Charlotte 49ers freshman shooting guard Javarris Barnett became the first casualty of the preseason, taking an elbow to his nose during Tuesday's practice while practicing half court defense drills.

Upon first examination it appeared Barnett had broken his nose. He was planning to be evaluated again later Tuesday evening.

Barnett, who played at Charlotte's Victory Christian, had already made good progress and has had some unintended improvement as well. He arrived on campus measuring at 6-foot-5 and weighing about 200 pounds.

Two months into his freshman year, Barnett has had another growth spurt and strength and conditioning coach Preston Greene said the 18-year-old was already pushing 6-7. Greene was planning to take an official measurement on Wednesday.

Before his incident on Tuesday, Barnett appeared to be playing well, working hard on defense and hitting open 3-pointers when the opportunity arose.