BYU basketball: Cougar freshman takes step forward

PROVO — Freshman Noah Hartstock got more minutes against Western Oregon than in any BYU basketball game this season. For the freshman, that was something he needed just to feel like a basketball player again.

The Cougars climbed to 12-2 after defeating Western Oregon 85-64 on Tuesday night in the Marriott Center.

Hartstock got 17 minutes against the 6-4 Wolves in a season where he's seen just 70 in eight games after missing four games with a sprained ankle. The 6-foot-8 rookie from Bartlesville, Okla., got off his LDS mission in August, an assignment in which he served two years in the Salt Lake City area.

Hartsock knocked down his first basket, a 12-footer and then stole the ball on BYU's next possession. He then blocked the first of two shots on Western Oregon's 6-7 junior Mike McLaughlin during a span when BYU's starters fell behind 9-0.

He finished with 7 points and 4 rebounds, making 2 of 3 from the field. He also had three blocked shots.

"I really thought Noah came in and got some good looks. He got some rebounds, hit a few shots and made some moves," said Cougar coach Dave Rose.

Hartsock played center in place of starter Chris Miles just minutes after the opening tipoff. Rose also gave reserves Archie Rose, Lamont Morgan Jr., and Charles Abouo a lot of playing time.

"Those are all things that will help us down the road," said Rose.

Hartsock was grateful for the playing time, but unsure of what it meant in terms of any master plan for either the game or his regime in making a comeback since his mission.

"I'm never sure. When ever coach calls, I try to be ready. In practices I've just tried to get my legs back, get back from that injury. It felt good to get out there and get some minutes, get my confidence back, especially in this game. They were a good team and it was good to get back in there and work on my confidence."

Hartsock suffered an ankle sprain at the end of the Cal-Poly game back on Nov. 22. "It set me back a little," he said.

Back in high school, Hartsock averaged 27 points a game as the leading scorer in 6A and third highest scorer in the state of Oklahoma as a Tulsa World all-stater.

He believes he's making strides and could be totally back in a month.

On a scale from 1 to 10, Hartsock says he's an 8 right now.

He's working on his foot speed, shot, jumping ability and timing, while increasing his conditioning and stamina.

Check that, the guy's trying to fix his entire game.

Just get it all back.

"It feels like it's coming back. This past month, I feel like I'm getting quicker. The first few months I was really struggling trying to get in shape and everything. I feel it's coming back and I'm trying to get better every day."

The ankle injury was a barrier.

"Not being able to play for two and a half weeks took its toll on trying to come back," Hartsock said. "I missed four or five games and missed all that practice time. It was a bummer."

Hartsock said he loves playing for the Cougars. "This is a great team. We've got a lot of talent and we've played against some very good teams and have been able to compete with them. It's a lot better than what I've played with before."

E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com