The procedure took place at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The sophomore point guard initially suffered the injury to his nose in practice Dec. 16. He should return to practice Saturday and is expected to be cleared to play in the Vols' Jan. 2 home game against Chattanooga (7 p.m. ET, SportSouth).

Former Vol John-Patrick Smith is set to start 2012 in a big way Saturday by entering the qualifying draw of his first ATP Tour-level event: the Brisbane International.

Playing in his home state of Queensland, Australia, Smith faces a very familiar foe in the first round: former UCLA Bruin Michael Look.

Look defeated Smith in an incredibly tight match 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open Playoffs in December. 

Smith is currently ranked No. 438 in the ATP World Tour Rankings, a career best.

On the other side of the world, a few Vols have a few weeks to wait before beginning their pro circuit. Tennys Sandgren starts his year Jan. 9 with a Futures event in Plantation, Fla.

On Dec. 30, we wish Happy Birthday to soccer sophomore Tori Bailey and freshman swimmer Erin Gaeckle.

On Dec. 29, we wish Happy Birthday to senior swimmer Atlantis Wilkins.

On Dec. 27, we wish Happy Birthday to football quarterback Tyler Bray and basketball guard Skylar McBee.

We wish a special Happy Birthday on Christmas Day to Desmond Brown of the track and field team.  

On Dec. 23, we send Happy Birthday wishes to freshman offensive lineman Mack Crowder and junior linebacker Herman Lathers.

Happy Birthday on Dec. 22 to Knoxville native, freshman swimmer Isaac Taylor.

A pair of Tennessee signees posted excellent showings at the Jones Cup Junior Invitational, which finished play Tuesday at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons, Ga.

Grant Daugherty finished ninth and Chad Merzbacher 12th in the 78-player field made up of the top 18-and-under male amateur golfers who are not enrolled full time at a university or college.

Daugherty closed with his best score of the tournament, a 2-over-par 72. The Alcoa native was tied for 16th place entering Tuesday's action after opening with rounds of 75-73. He finished at 10-over-par 220 for the tournament.

Merzbacher shot 76 Tuesday after consecutive rounds of 73 had him tied for ninth heading into the third and final round. The Dublin, Ohio, product finished at 12-over 222.

Both Merzbacher and Daugherty managed only one birdie apiece in Tuesday's final round on the difficult Seaside Course, which every April hosts the SEC Men's Golf Championship.

Daugherty and Merzbacher joined Michael Nagy of Manistique, Mich., last month to form the heralded 2011 Tennessee men's golf signing class. The trio enrolls at UT in fall 2012.

Final scores for the 2011 Jones Cup Junior Invitational can be found here.

On Dec. 20, we wish Happy Birthday to sophomore freestyle swimmer Grace Anne Sanderson.

Former Tennessee football legend and NFL Hall of Famer Reggie White would have turned 50 today. Born on December 19, 1961, he passed away on December 26, 2004.

Vols freshman guard Josh Richardson has shown some potential this season. What you may not know is Richardson's talents extend beyond the court.

Vols fans have seen Josh Richardson show his versatility this season. Whether it is knocking down the three ball or attacking the rim Richardson has shown a number of skills.

However, he has also played classical piano since he was a child.

Check out this WBIR feature: Vol freshman basketball player also has another skill

On Dec. 14, we wish Happy Birthday to sophomore pole vaulter Tyler Porter.

Former Tennessee golfer Chris Paisley missed the cut Tuesday at the 2011 European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage in Girona, Spain.

Paisley shot a fourth-round 72, good for even par on the Stadium Course at the PGA Catalunya Resort but not good enough to make the top 70 and ties. The Newcastle, England, native finished his four days in a tie for 83rd place at a cumulative score of 1 under par, which was two strokes below the cut line.

The top 30 players and ties after Thursday's final round earn membership on the 2012 European Tour.

Paisley began his bid Saturday on the Tour Course with a 3-under-par 67. He shot 1-under 71 Sunday on the Stadium Course, before returning to the Tour Course on Monday for a 3-over 73.

A Vols team captain in 2009 and four-year letterman, Pasisley advanced to the European Q-School final stage by finishing fourth at his Second Qualifying Stage on Dec. 2-5 in Murcia, Spain. Paisley posted 9 under par after rounds of 72, 65, 70 and 68 against a field of 72 golfers.

Paisley now is eligible for limited membership on the Challenge Tour, which is the equivalent of the Nationwide Tour in the United States.

Paisley sparkled in 2011 on the Alps Tour, winning three times in only eight starts with one second- and one third-place finish to claim more than $37,000 in winnings. He also competed in 10 Challenge Tour events, making seven cuts and finishing 68th with money winnings of nearly $33,000.

The European Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Former Tennessee golfer Chris Paisley needs a solid round Tuesday to stay alive at the 2011 European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.

Paisley opened the scheduled six-rounds-in-six-days tournament with a 67 Saturday, but followed that start with rounds of 71 and 73 the last two days to fall into a tie for 74th place. That places the Newcastle, England, native just outside the cut line (top 70 and ties) for advancement to the final two rounds in Girona, Spain.

Paisley, who was a Vols team captain in 2009 and four-year letterman, advanced to the finals of Europe's Q-School by finishing fourth at his Second Qualifying Stage on Dec. 2-5 in Murcia, Spain. Paisley posted 9 under par after rounds of 72, 65, 70 and 68 against a field of 72 golfers.

Five days later, he was teeing it up with 156 contestants vying for spots either on the 2012 European PGA Tour or Challenge Tour, which is equivalent to the Nationwide Tour in the United States. The top 30 players plus ties at the final stage become eligible for Category 11 Membership on the European Tour, which usually translates into approximately 18 tournaments appearances.

Players who make the cut but finish below 30th place are eligible for Category 14 (limited) Membership on the European Tour and Category 7 Membership on the Challenge Tour. Players who miss the cut are eligible for limited membership on the Challenge Tour.

Paisley sparkled in 2011 on the Alps Tour, winning three times in only eight starts with one second- and one third-place finish to earn more than $37,000. He also competed in 10 Challenge Tour events, making seven cuts and finishing 68th on the money list with winnings of nearly $33,000.

The current European Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Happy Birthday to volleyball junior Leslie Cikra and softball senior pitcher Cat Hosfield on Dec. 12.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

On Dec. 8, we wish Happy Birthday to freshman volleyball setter Mary Pollmiller and freshman baseball outfielder Jake Rowland.

IN THE NEWS

Angela Oh capped a steady week of golf by shooting an even-par 72 Sunday and tying for ninth at the LPGA Final Stage Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The former Tennessee golfer (2006-08) earns full LPGA Tour membership for the first time in 2012. Oh played in 10 LPGA events this past year, making one cut.

Meanwhile in La Quinta, Calif., Philip Pettitt fired his second 6-under-par 66 in the last three days and jumped to a tie for 53rd place heading into Monday's final round at the PGA's Q-School event.

Both of Pettitt's rounds of 66 have come on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, along with another score of 75 Thursday. Monday's final round for the UT alum (2004-08) is back on the PGA West Stadium Course, where his scores thus far are 74 and 76.

Pettitt is at 3-under-par 357 for his five rounds.

The top 25 players and ties receive PGA Tour cards for 2012. The next nearest-number-to-50 earn fully exempt Nationwide Tour cards for the first 10 events of 2012, with the remainder receiving conditional Nationwide Tour status.

Television coverage continues Monday on The Golf Channel from 3:30-7 p.m. Eastern time.

The current PGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

For her five rounds at LPGA International headquarters, Oh shot 70-75-72-74-72 for a 363 total that was 3 over par. A field of 139 players started this week's event and the top 20 finishers earned full membership status for 2012.

The current LPGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Angela Oh is 18 holes away from returning to the LPGA Tour on a full-time basis.

The former Lady Vols golfer resides in 11th place through four of the five rounds being played this week at the LPGA Final Stage Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. The top 25 finishers earn LPGA cards for 2012.

Oh, who played for Tennessee from 2006-08 and made 10 LPGA Tour starts in 2011, carded a 2-over-par 74 Saturday with 16 pars and just two bogeys. She stands 3 over par for the tournament heading into Sunday's final round.

A former UT teammate of Oh's, Nicole Smith, was on the wrong side of the cut line and finished her Q-School final stage at 13 over par. Smith tied for 77th place after posting scores of 75, 76, 75 and 75 over her four rounds.

The current LPGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Philip Pettitt shot 76 Saturday at the PGA Final Stage Qualifying Tournament in La Quinta, Calif.

The former Vols golfer (2004-08) is 3 over par and in 108th place with two rounds remaining, one each on the Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium courses.

The PGA Q-School's top 25 players and ties receive tour cards for 2012. The next nearest-number-to-50 earn fully exempt Nationwide Tour cards for the first 10 events of 2012, with the remainder receiving conditional Nationwide Tour status.

Television coverage continues Sunday on The Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m. Eastern time.

The current PGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Tennessee junior Caroline Simmons swam her second Olympic Trials qualifying time Saturday at the AT&T Winter National Championships in Atlanta.

Two days removed from posting a qualifying time 50-meter freestyle, Simmons clocked her Olympic Trials cut in the 100 freestyle time trial at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. She swam the long-course race in 57.01 seconds.

Former Lady Vol Christine Magnuson also swam an Olympic trial cut, finishing the 100 freestyle in 56.09 and ending the race in 15th.

Sophomore Courtney Ciesielski finished the 200 butterfly in 2:18.56.

For the men, current graduate assistant Mason Norman swam the 100 freestyle in 51.61. Former Vol Mattias Kahlin swam the 200 breaststroke in 2:29.88.

Several current and former Tennessee swimmers competed Friday at the AT&T Winter National Championships at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta.

For the women, junior Abbie Alton touched the wall in the 50-meter freestyle time trial in 26.88 seconds, .05 seconds faster than her time the day before. 

Fellow junior Caroline Simmons was scheduled to race in the 200 freestyle but did not compete. Simmons and Alton are both scheduled to swim the 100 freestyle, and Courtney Ciesielski will race in the 200 butterfly.

For the men, former Vol Mattias Kahlin same the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:06.41.

Current graduate assistant Mason Norman swam the time trial in the 50-meter freestyle and improved his time to 23.60. 

Angela Oh vaulted back into the top 10 and Philip Pettitt jumped 55 places in the standings thanks to a pair of solid performances for the former Tennessee golfers on Day 3 of their respective tour qualifying tournaments.

Oh fired an even-par 72 and improved from 15th place to ninth at the LPGA Q-School event in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Baltimore native, who played for UT from 2006-08, is 1 over par for the tournament following rounds of 70, 75 and Friday's 72.

Another former Lady Vols golfer, Nicole Smith (2005-09), is tied for 78th place. Smith is at 10 over par after rounds of 75, 76 and a Friday card of 75. Smith was a finalist on The Golf Channel's Big Break Ireland this summer and finished 32nd on the Futures Tour in 2011.

Two rounds remain for the top 25 players to earn LPGA cards for 2012. The rest of the 139-player field earns full Futures Tour privileges.

The current LPGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Pettitt posted a sizzling 6-under-par 66 on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. His round came one day after shooting 75 in high winds on the same track, and two days after opening with 74 on the Stadium Course.

The Murfreesboro native carded seven birdies Friday against a single bogey, and improved from 145th place to a tie for 90th.

Three rounds remain for Pettitt, who won his second stage qualifier two weeks ago to advance to the finals for the first time. Pettitt finished third this year on the NGA Hooters Tour, and was a member of the UT men's golf team from 2004-08.

The PGA Q-School's top 25 players and ties receive tour cards for 2012. The next nearest-number-to-50 earn fully exempt Nationwide Tour cards for the first 10 events of 2012, with the remainder receiving conditional Nationwide Tour status.

Television coverage starts Saturday on The Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m. Eastern time.

The current PGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

All three former Tennessee golfers competing in Q-School finals Thursday posted higher scores at their respective tournaments in California and Florida.

Philip Pettitt has opened 74-75 over his first two days at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., and is in 145th place. Angela Oh also shot 75 Thursday after her opening-round 70 and dropped from fifth place to a tie for 15th at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Nicole Smith has carded 75-76 for her first two rounds and is in a group tied for 77th place.

Four rounds remain for Pettitt, who won his Second Stage Qualifying Tournament two weeks ago to advance to the finals for the first time.

The top 25 players and ties receive PGA Tour cards for 2012. The next nearest-number-to-50 earn fully exempt Nationwide Tour cards for the first 10 events of 2012, with the remainder receiving conditional Nationwide Tour status.

Pettitt finished third this year on the NGA Hooters Tour. He was a member of the UT men's golf team from 2004-08.

The current PGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Oh played in 10 LPGA Tour events in 2011 but made only one cut. She was a winner on the Futures Tour in 2010, when she claimed six top-10s and finished sixth on that circuit after earning $50,156. Oh played for the Lady Vols from 2006-08.

Smith was a finalist on The Golf Channel's Big Break Ireland this summer and finished 32nd on the Futures Tour after a 40th-place showing in 2010. Smith was a Lady Vols golfer from 2005-09.

Three rounds remain for both Oh and Smith. The top 25 players earn LPGA Tour cards for 2012, with the rest of the 139-player field earning full Futures Tour privileges.

The current LPGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Former Tennessee golfers Angela Oh, Nicole Smith and Philip Pettitt are competing this week at their respective tour qualifying tournaments with hopes of landing membership cards in the major leagues of golf for the 2012 season.

Oh turned in the best opening day of the threesome by firing a 2-under-par 70 that left her in fifth place after the first of five rounds being played at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Smith shot a 3-over 75 and was tied for 74th place in the 139-player field. The top 25 and ties earn full LPGA status for next season.

Oh played for the Lady Vols from 2006-08 and Smith from 2005-09.

The current LPGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

Pettitt opened with a 2-over-par 74 for the first of six rounds scheduled for PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. The former Vols golfer (2004-08) is tied for 146th place. This week's top 25 finishers earn full PGA Tour status for 2012, while places 26 through 75 earn membership on the Nationwide Tour.

Competing this week among the 172-player field are four past major championship winners -- Rich Beem (2002 PGA), David Duval (2001 British), Lee Janzen (1993 and 1998 U.S. Opens) and Shaun Micheel (2003 PGA).

Pettitt just finished his third season on the NGA Hooters Tour and was third on the money list. He advanced to the Q-School finals after winning the Second Stage Q-School tournament two weeks ago.

The current PGA Q-School leaderboard can be found here.

As we start the month of December, we wish Happy Birthday to freshman runner J.R. Creekmore of the cross country and track teams, sophomore swimmer Oystein Hetland and redshirt freshmen tight end Dakota Summers of the football team.