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Joe Lunardi has bumped up both BYU and UNLV in the latest "Bracketology" projections, while New Mexico holds steady and the MWC continues to be a three-bid league.
BYU is listed as a 6 seed in Omaha, facing 11 seed Davidson. Lunardi writes the following about the Cougars:
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BYU
The Mountain West now boasts a pair of Top 30 teams. BYU (11-2) is clear of UNLV both in the standings and in terms of postseason profile.
Why seeded here?
The loss at San Diego State wasn't all that damaging.
May change because:
Tuesday at New Mexico all but assured an NCAA berth.
Good Wins
RPI 1-25: N-Louisville
RPI 26-50: UNLV
Bad Losses
RPI 101-200: @Boise State
RPI 201+: none
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UNLV is a 9 seed in Little Rock (8-Mississippi State), and New Mexico is a 12 seed in Denver (5-Washington State). UNM is also listed among the "Last Four In."
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Jerry Palm has BYU as a 7 seed in Omaha (10-Kent State), while UNLV is a 10 seed in Anaheim (7-Kansas State). Palm (collegerpi.com) has the MWC as a two-bid league.
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CBS Sportsline's Gary Parrish has BYU and UNLV in the field of 64, with New Mexico among the "Last Four Out." Elsewhere on the site, UNLV is listed as a team that may be sweating out until Selection Sunday.
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Tyler Haws' Lone Peak Knights advanced to the 5A State Finals with a double overtime win over Davis a short time ago (Haws hit the game winning 10-footer with only seconds remaining). Haws (a junior) is BYU's #1 recruiting target, and the school has gone after Haws as such. There is nothing than can legally be done that has not been done, to assure that Haws knows how much he is wanted in Provo.
I am confident Haws will sign with the Cougars, much like his fellow Knight Jackson Emery did a few years ago. And I think the chance to play with Emery will actually be one of the factors that leads Haws to BYU. As a BYU freshman, Emery came by Haws' house to boost his confidence after Tyler missed a couple of key free throws in a Lone Peak game Tyler played as a 9th grader. Haws admires Emery, and I think the chance to play on the wing alongside him would be intriguing.
Other factors, in no particular order:
-Dave Rose's style of play
-Lee Cummard's dynamic role in the BYU offense, and the chance for Tyler to pick up where Cummard leaves off on the wing.
-BYU's championship credentials.
-the ability of Tyler's family to watch every one of his games in their backyard.
-Rose himself, his two-time "Coach of the Year" status, and his staff. Their relationships with the Haws family have been well-cultivated.
-his father's BYU ties, and the chance to follow in Marty's footsteps in front of a fan base that can appreciate the Haws family name.
-the chance to play in front of crowds of 20 thousand-plus fans, and the promise of postseason play (BYU will have played in one NIT and two NCAA Tournaments under Dave Rose before Haws' senior season).
-Tyler's plans to decide on his college choice after his junior season take out of the running any latecomers. BYU was into Haws first and earliest, and has been with him all the way. Teams that come to the party now won't hold the same kind of sway with the Haws family.
I know there are rumblings about one "big name" school or another coming after Haws, but don't believe everything you hear. While prominent schools have indeed shown interest and/or offered, no school has shown more interest than BYU, and Rose's staff has never taken Tyler for granted. If BYU were to lose him (and I don't think it will), it will not have been for lack of effort or dedication to securing one of the top high school talents this state has ever seen.
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