BYU basketball notebook: Tyler Haws ready for strong finish to his freshman year
PROVO — Tyler Haws knows a long break in his basketball life is on the near horizon. But he tries not to think about it much because he also knows the most important basketball of his life to this point will be played in the days ahead.
"I want to finish strong, and we've got a bunch of games to win so I'm really looking forward to the next couple of weeks," the BYU freshman guard said before the Cougars left for Las Vegas where they'll open the Mountain West Conference tournament Thursday night against TCU.
On June 2 the former two-time Mr. Basketball from Lone Peak High will depart on a two-year LDS Church mission to the Philippines.
"It's kind of an interesting thought that I'm not going to play basketball for two years, so the one thing I'd like to do with that in mind is finish strong," he said.
For most of this season Haws has been a model of consistency — starting 30 games for the Cougars, averaging nearly 27 minutes per game, 11 points, four rebounds and shooting better than 90 percent from the free-throw line. He's made his last 32 free throws and has a chance to reach the school's all-time mark of 39 straight set by teammate Jimmer Fredette earlier this season.
Still, some feel the grind of a long college schedule hits freshmen hard this time of year. Haws, in BYU's past two games, has made only two field goals. He played only eight minutes in the Cougars' rout of TCU on Saturday.
But Haws insists he hasn't hit the so-called "freshman" wall.
"It is different than high school where you play 25 games max, and we've already played 32 games and have several more to go. So it is tough, but it can be managed," Haws said. "My body feels pretty good right now, but you can tell it's getting close to the end of the year. But the important thing is fighting through it, which is what I'll do … but in any season on any level, there are ups and downs. You just have to keep a good attitude through it all and play hard."
Haws also understands that he is no longer a secret to the teams BYU is playing these days. Opponents are now game planning more with him in mind.
"Toward the end of the year people get to know you, so you have to find ways to counter their attack. You have to keep battling and find ways to produce and help your team," he said.
In winning two state titles at Lone Peak and playing in three state championship games, Haws is no stranger to tournament play or big games.
"I feel like we've played in a lot of fun and exciting games this year that had an NCAA Tournament atmosphere, so I'm really looking forward to experiencing more of that. It's just a fun time to be playing basketball," Haws said.
