BYU senior night provides opportunity to reflect on Tyler Haws' and other senior's careers


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As the Cougar basketball season winds down, this week’s regular season home finale creates a time for coaches and fans to reminisce on Tyler Haws' sensational career at BYU.

Thursday’s game against the University of San Diego is senior night for four seniors on BYU’s roster: Haws, Anson Winder, Josh Sharp and Skyler Halford. Each senior has contributed significantly to another 20-win season. Winder has evolved as the team’s second leading scorer, Halford has blossomed into his role as a 6th man off the bench, and Sharp has provided much-needed rebounding and energy the past few games. However, the spotlight on Thursday will fall on Haws, as he wraps up his historic career as a Cougar.

Haws enters Thursday’s game with 2,565 points, good for second place on BYU’s list of career scoring leaders. Haws will need to score 35 points against the Toreros to pass Jimmer Fredette as BYU’s all-time scoring leader. Haws has already scored 35 points once this season, against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 29. Despite the real possibility that Haws could break the record during his last game as a Cougar in the Marriott Center, Haws says he isn’t focused on setting the record and doesn’t care when or where he sets it.

“It doesn’t matter to me that much,” Haws said. “You are so caught up in what the team’s doing and the scheme of things and how you’re going to help your team ... those numbers just have to take care of themselves. If it happens, it happens. And if it doesn’t, it will happen some other time.”

Breaking the scoring record isn't something Haws expected. Despite entering BYU’s program from Lone Peak High School as an established scorer and shooter, Haws says he never expected the possibility of becoming BYU’s scoring leader.

“I never thought I would be up near the scoring record,” Haws said. “I just wanted to play as hard as I could for Coach Rose and be able to help the team in any way I could. Every time I step on the floor I am going to give my very best effort and wherever it lands at the end, that’s where it’s going to land.”

Haws, who has played in more than 50 games at the Marriott Center, still can’t believe his time as a Cougar is coming to a close.

“To be honest, it hasn’t really hit me yet,” Haws said. “I think it will hit me when that final buzzer sounds that it will be the last time I play in here. I’ve had so many fun memories playing in a BYU uniform, so I’m sure it will be an emotional game.”

Junior guard Kyle Collinsworth, Haws' backcourt companion the past two years, was extremely grateful for the time he has spent playing with one of BYU’s all-time greats.

“There’s been a lot of good memories of him hitting a ton of shots,” Collinsworth said. “He’s just been a great friend and mentor. It’s been awesome playing with him.”

When head coach Dave Rose was asked to reflect on Haws' four years under his tenure, Rose praised Haws' work ethic and approach to the game.

“When you think of him, for me I think of consistency and toughness,” Rose said. “He’s a guy that this year has shown as much grit and toughness as any player we’ve ever had. Ty is really good at taking today and working on today and seeing how that can affect you as far as being better the next day. I will really miss his approach. He’s a special guy in how he prepares everyday to be a better player.”

Rose, who is saying goodbye to a group of seniors for the first time in two years, expounded on the unique ability a group of seniors can have on a college basketball team.

“I think any coach will tell you that as special as these young players are, that come in and are ready to go from the day they get here, there is something really unique and special about senior leadership,” Rose said.

Watching the senior's development of leadership capabilities and the bond created between players and coaches over the entirety of their careers is Rose’s favorite aspect of his job. Rose described the emotions heading into a senior night.

“It’s pretty emotional because you’ve had an experience with those guys that is unlike anything that you can describe because of the highs and the lows,” Rose said. “That bonds you pretty good with those guys. That’s actually the best part of the job, that whole relationship you have with the guys.”

Rose and the entire BYU team will miss this year’s departing seniors. Haws, Winder, Halford, and Sharp have all been great examples of hard work and dedication, which are invaluable habits to bestow upon underclassmen. When asked what came to his mind when he thought about this particular class of seniors, Rose focused on the group’s hard work and dedication.

“That is a lot of practices, a lot of workouts in the summer and a lot of commitment to our program,” Rose said. “Every one of them has really improved since the day they got here, which is basically due to their hard work and their commitment.”

This group of seniors will have their hands full in their last game at the Marriott Center, facing a tough and physical USD team. The Toreros, who beat BYU in San Diego 77-74 on Jan. 24, are known for their physicality and smart defensive play. Rose and his team hope to match that physicality in Thursday’s game.

“They’re really tough guys, that’s what they have their whole program built on,” Rose said. “Their guys are very good at reading your defensive approach. They have counters to almost everything you can do. We got burned pretty good down there. That will be our challenge tomorrow, to make them earn baskets.”

The key in BYU’s current three-game win streak, their fifth three-game win streak of the season, has been the improvement in rebounding. With the insertion of Sharp and freshman Corbin Kafusi into the starting lineup, the Cougars have won the last three rebounding battles, which has also helped the team on the defensive side of the game.

“It all kind of comes down to rebounding,” Rose said. “It’s a real stat for our team that determines if we win or lose games. It’s as obvious as anything I’ve seen in a group.”

Haws, and the rest of the Cougars, are geared up for the game and their late season push towards the NCAA Tournament.

“In a lot of ways our tournament has already started, there isn’t a lot of room for error,” Haws said. “We are taking everything one day at a time and trying to improve every day.”

BYU vs. USD tips off at the Marriott Center on Thursday at 8 p.m. MST. Trevor Woller is a public relations student at Brigham Young University and a sports enthusiast.

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Trevor Woller

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