This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
El Segundo, Calif. • Tyler Haws' plate for lunch at the West Coast Conference Basketball Tip-off event on Monday comprised a small sandwich and a whole lot of salad. And no potato chips.
Why is that a big deal?
Because the BYU superstar is trying to lose a little weight this offseason, rather than gain pounds like he did prior to the 2013-14 season. Haws is watching what he eats in effort to get quicker and develop better endurance.
"I put on 10 pounds last offseason, and I didn't really like it," Haws said after being named to the WCC preseason all-conference team, along with BYU guard Kyle Collinsworth. "So this year I went the opposite way and tried to keep my strength, yet shed a few pounds. I lost seven or eight pounds, and I feel great. I'm a little quicker laterally, and I feel like my stamina is a little bit better."
That Haws and Collinsworth made the 10-member preseason all-conference team isn't a surprise after all, Haws is the reigning WCC Player of the Year and Collinsworth was an all-league pick last year. And it isn't a surprise that the Cougars are picked to finish second in the league.
When nationally prominent Gonzaga's around, that's BYU's lot in life.
Aside from Eric Mika (mission) and Matt Carlino (transferred to Marquette), most of BYU's stars are back, however, even if Haws won't look the same as he did last year.
At one point last season, Haws weighed 208 pounds. Now he's down to 190.
"Everyone we talked to said I needed to get quicker, so that's been a big key to my offseason work," Haws said. That's the feedback [if he hopes to impress NBA scouts], is that I need to get quicker, especially on the defensive side."
No, Haws isn't already thinking about the NBA draft, and whether he will be selected.
"You can't look too far ahead, but then again you want to be prepared," he said. "I am just focusing on the season, on our team, on winning, and those things will take care of themselves if you do well," he said.
BYU coach Dave Rose said Haws identified two primary goals last spring: get quicker and lighter, and become a better 3-point shooter.
"We needed him to bulk up a little last season because of our [thin] situation on the front line," Rose said.
As for the 3-point shooting, Haws said he needs to keep opponents more honest with an addition to his repertoire. He's made 108 of 280 (38.6 percent) in his career, which isn't bad, by any means.
"I feel like I've improved, but the games will tell," he said. "I haven't proven anything yet."
As for Rose, who has been diagnosed with cancerous spots on his pancreas twice in the past five years, including prior to the 2013-14 season, said he had another scan last June and everything was fine.
"I feel as good as ever going into a season," Rose said. "I feel great, so that's been nice."
Twitter: @drewjay
BYU career scoring leaders
2,599 • Jimmer Fredette (2007-11)
2,467 • Danny Ainge (1977-81)
2,319 • Michael Smith (1986-89)
2,285 • Devin Durrant (1978-80, 1982-84)
1,944 • Tyler Haws (2009-10, 2012-present)
1,885 • Russell Larson (1992-95)
Tyler Haws' 3-point shooting
Year 3P-3PA 3P%
2009-10 25-68 .368
2012-13 43-113 .381
2013-14 40-99 .404
Career 108-280 .386
West Coast Conference
Men's basketball poll
1. Gonzaga (9)
2. BYU (1)
3. Saint Mary's
4. San Francisco
5. San Diego
6. Portland
7. Pepperdine
7. Santa Clara
9. Loyola Marymount
10. Pacific
First-place votes in parenthesis
All WCC preseason team
Tyler Haws, BYU
Kyle Collinsworth, BYU
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga
Przemek Karnowski, Loyola Marymount
Stacy Davis, Pepperdine
Thomas van der Mars, Portland
Brad Waldow, Saint Mary's
Johnny Dee, San Diego
Jared Brownridge, Santa Clara
Kruize Pinkins, San Francisco