Team USA rolls, Haws' playing time limited

Team USA stayed perfect in group play at the World University Games on Wednesday in Kazan, Russia, pulling away from Sweden for an 83-65 victory. The win improved the U.S. to 3-0, in a tie with Canada for the lead atop Group C, with two preliminary-round games remaining.

BYU's Tyler Haws played just over seven of the game's 40 minutes, his lowest floor-time total of the games. Haws scored a single point on 1-for-2 shooting from the free throw stripe; he missed both of his field goal attempts. His stat line included a rebound, a turnover and a foul.

After leading Team USA in field goal percentage and standing second in points per game over two exhibition contests played in Kazan, Haws is currently last on the team in FG% and scoring over three games in competition.

The focal point of the BYU offense, Haws was prepared to accept a different role with Team USA, but after averaging just under 16 minutes per game in the exhibitions, Haws' playing time has notably diminished in group play, with the junior-to-be now averaging just over 10 minutes per contest.

A proficient shooter, Haws hasn't been able to get into any sort of rhythm, averaging only three shot attempts per game. Haws' only field goal makes have been right at the rim (dunk, alley-oop lay-in); he is 0-for-7 on jump shots, including 0-for-3 from the three-point line. Of the 12 players on the Team USA roster, only big man Alex Kirk has played less and taken fewer shots.

In short, the Tyler Haws we see coming off the bench and having trouble scoring is so far not the same type of player BYU fans have cheered for two seasons. It's unfortunate that Haws is off to a slow start, because with head coach Bob McKillop settling into a rotation and Team USA's toughest games still to come, playing time will be an even more prized commodity the rest of the way.

Certainly Haws is the consummate team player, and will do whatever is necessary to contribute to Team USA's success, but it has to be somewhat frustrating--for him and his supporters--to see such limited opportunity to do what he does best: put the ball in the basket. His limited chances have likely added pressure to each shot taken, and right now, the shots aren't dropping.

Team USA's roster is deep, with six players currently averaging double-figure scoring through three games, and while one could argue that a player who averaged almost 22 points per game last season might merit more of a look, the team dynamic has to be trusted to the coaches.

There is little doubt that Haws will support the staff and his teammates and keep grinding, all the way through, to what the U.S. hopes is its first World University Games gold medal since 2005.

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Team USA's two most difficult group games will be played tomorrow against Australia and Friday versus Canada. Earlier Wednesday, the Canadians took care of the Aussies, 92-83, behind 18 points from Baylor product Brady Heslip; Gonzaga's Kevin Pangos added nine points.

Assuming the U.S. beats Australia on Thursday, Friday's preliminary-round finale will be for first place in Group C, and a quarterfinal berth against the second-place finisher in Group D. Friday's loser would meet the Group D winner in the quarters.

Currently, Group D powers Lithuania and Brazil are in the same position as the U.S. and Canada--the two best teams in their group tied atop the standings at 3-0. They face each other tomorrow.

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Photo: Courtesy USA Basketball

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