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PROVO — I don't know what the opposite of Jimmermania is, but it's happening to Tyler Haws.
Has there been a player who has been better and more overlooked that T.J.'s big brother?
When Tyler Haws scored 33 points against Saint Mary's to lead BYU to its first-ever win over the Gaels since joining the West Coast Conference, it was overlooked. In fact, head coach Dave Rose stopped his postgame interview and said, "It's interesting that I'd field six or seven questions and no one would ask about Ty getting 33. That's amazing that's he's been as good and consistent as he's been, and I think even you guys are starting to overlook."
I'm guilty. I conducted a radio interview with Greg Wrubell for 20 minutes last week — talking about BYU basketball — and I didn't once mention Ty.
But coaches notice. They see everything.
University of San Francisco head coach Rex Walters played seven years in the NBA — after a standout career at Kansas — and he's been impressed with the league's leading scorer.
"Haws is obviously a guy you game-plan for. People asked me ‘Is he an NBA player?' last year, and I was like ‘I don't know,'" said Walters, but he's changed his tune a little bit as Haws continues his blistering WCC play. "He's pretty good. He makes a lot of tough shots look easy."
Haws is obviously a guy you game-plan for. People asked me 'Is he an NBA player?' last year, and I was like 'I don't know.' He's pretty good. He makes a lot of tough shots look easy.
–Rex Walters
"He's a stud," said Walters after Haws 19-point night against the Dons on Saturday. "I tip my hat off to him. He's a classy kid, unbelievable worker and it's all what's good in college athletics is that young man."
Haws is so humble that you buy into his non-hype. He parries compliments with the defense of Davy Crockett at the Alamo.
He's quietly putting together the best junior year in BYU history — Kresimir Cosic and Jimmer Fredette are Haws' only competition.
He's third in the nation in scoring with 24.5 points per game and shooting lights out — from everywhere. He's hitting 48 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3, and 87 percent from the line. He scored 48 points against Portland.
Jimmer's junior year was nearly identical. He scored 22.1 ppg, shot 46 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3, and 89 percent from the line. His best game was a 49-point monstrosity against Arizona.
On Wednesday night, Jimmer recaptured some of that magic as he scored a career-high 24 points in a overtime victory over the Knicks, just three hours from his hometown.
Jimmermania didn't get into full swing until nearly 20 games into his senior year, so there's still a chance that Haws will experience the national sensation that his former teammate enjoyed/suffered/tolerated.
"You got to give so much credit to Ty and the work he puts in and the skill level that he has and the consistency that he plays with," said Rose.
Pendulums have a way of correcting themselves. By this time next year, Rose may be begging for a question that involves someone other than Haws.
At some point, the publicity will match the production.
