BYU’s Tyler Haws Makes the World University Games Roster
Nov 17, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Tyler Haws (3) drives past Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) during the second half of the consolation game at the Coaches vs Cancer held at Barclays Center. Notre Dame won 78-68. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Today, a week of intense practices finally culminated in the final announcement of the U.S.A. World University Games squad. One of the twelve ballers that will suit up for the Red, White, and Blue will be the WCC’s own Tyler Haws.
He will be joined by:
Spencer Dinwiddie (Colorado)
Yogi Ferrell (Indiana)
Treveon Graham (VCU)
Luke Hancock (Louisville)
Cory Jefferson (Baylor)
Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati)
Alex Kirk (New Mexico)
Doug McDermott (Creighton)
Adreian Payne (Michigan State)
Will Sheehey (Indiana)
Aaron White (Iowa)
As I look at the players that didn’t make the cut, this accomplishment is in no way a small task. Stanford’s Chasson Randle, Marquette’s Devante Gardner and Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant all failed to make the final roster. For a complete list of those invited to the training camp, click here.
This extra experience playing with and against high level competition will definitely benefit Haws. He’ll have to fit within a team that doesn’t consider him the go-to guy, which will make him focus on other aspects of his game other than buckets. He’ll have the chance to improve his work off the ball, and hopefully he’ll get a chance to improve his most glaring weakness, as well – defense. The only concern would be fatigue. Will the wear and tear from extra traveling and playing over the summer show itself during March, when BYU needs Haws the most? Time will tell.
The U.S. team will start practicing in Kazan, Russia on Wednesday and then start pool play on Sunday against United Arab Emirates. In an interesting side note, Haws and team U.S.A. will go against WCC rival Kevin Pangos and team Canada on July 12th, as they both find themselves in Pool C. For a complete schedule, click here.
Big thanks go out to BYU play-by-play man Greg Wrubell, who was in Colorado Springs for the week, as he kept everyone apprised of the goings-on via Twitter and KSL.com. My favorite tweet of Wrubell’s? Noting Haws’ reaction to the good news: “I ran back in my room and jumped up and down a little bit. I was pretty excited.”
For interviews and video clips, take a look at Wrubell’s twitter feed and also go to KSL.com and check out the BYU sports section of the site. You’ll find good stuff like this video that shows Haws hitting 28 international threes in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The international line is about 17 inches back from the NCAA line, so his rainmaking is definitely impressive and encouraging. Well, encouraging for BYU fans, anyway.
For audio of U.S.A. coach Bob McKillop on how he picked the roster, click here.
For SI’s Andy Glockner’s analysis of the final roster, click here.
Also, for a potential TV schedule, check ESPNU’s listings, as the majority of team U.S.A.’s games will be shown taped and live on that channel.