Font ResizeProvo » With the battle raging to be the BYU basketball team's fifth starter this season -- joining returnees Chris Miles , Jimmer Fredette , Jonathan Tavernari and Jackson Emery in the opening-day lineup -- candidates can't afford to miss even a minute of preseason practice.
But that's what happened to freshman Tyler Haws last week, and now the former Tribune 5A MVP from Lone Peak High finds himself playing catch-up a little bit.
"I feel like things are coming along real well and I am picking things up OK," he said. "But it is hard when you miss a whole week."
Haws, who sat out with soreness in his left knee, missed the Cougar Tipoff game last Wednesday, but practiced Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and then again Monday evening.
Coach Dave Rose said Monday was "the best he's looked in 10 days. He was going really good. But he just needs to be out here. The more reps he gets, the more confident he will get."
Haws' chief competition to be the starter at the three spot figures to be sophomore Charles Abouo , although Haws can also play the two, where junior Jackson Emery seems entrenched as the likely starter.
"I want to be able to help -- any way I can," Haws said, when asked what his playing time expectations are this year. "Whether that is playing a lot of minutes, or just a few minutes, I am ready to
Although his parents live just a half-hour away from campus, Haws chose to move close to BYU and is rooming with walk-on Kyle Rose of Oregon, coach Dave Rose's nephew.
He said regardless of how much or little he contributes this season, he definitely plans on going on an LDS Church mission in April, when the winter semester ends.
As for his first taste of college basketball, he said he can already tell it's a different game than what he's accustomed to.
"It is just fast," he said. "BYU plays at a fast pace anyway, so everything can be a blur."
Post them up
Having watched the film from last week's Cougar Tipoff at the Marriott Center, Rose said he went away pleased with how well the post players --- Chris Miles , James Anderson and Brandon Davies -- played offensively in the scrimmage.
"Hopefully, that was indicative of our post guys offensively becoming better and more confident and not a sign that our post defense isn't very good," he said.
Exhibition Thursday
The Cougars will play host to Trinity Western, a private, Christian liberal arts university in Langley, British Columbia, on Thursday. Tipoff for the exhibition game is at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Center. Trinity plays at Utah Valley University tonight.
"These first two exhibition games, hopefully we will be able to play a lot of guys and see what they can do," Rose said.
The first game that counts is Nov. 13 against Bradley at the Marriott Center, part of what will be an annual challenge series between the Mountain West and Missouri Valley conferences.
Briefly
Forward Noah Hartsock sprained his ankle in practice Monday and will likely miss the next few practice sessions. Rose said the Cougars are "a little banged up, but that's what happens when you are going after each other every day as hard as we are going."
Thursday's exhibition game
At the Marriott Center, Provo
BYU vs. Trinity Western, 7 p.m.
