TJ Haws: BYU Basketball Has ‘Sense Of Urgency’ This Season

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball guard TJ Haws says that this year’s men’s basketball team has a “sense of urgency.”

Haws, one of seven seniors on the Cougars’ roster, said that BYU’s senior class is something to be excited about during BYU Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, October 9.

“I think it’s really strong,” said Haws about the Cougars’ senior class. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys that have played a lot of games, a lot of minutes and we have a lot of experience. We have great leaders on this team both on the court and vocally. I’m really excited about this year and I’m excited about our senior class.”

.@tjhaws30 and @yochilds22 combined for almost half of @BYUBasketball's scoring last season 😱@TheAndyKatz dives deep with TJ on what the duo can accomplish in their senior season. #WCChoops pic.twitter.com/IlfErChfzZ

— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) July 9, 2019

Haws was the second-leading scorer for the Cougars last season and will need to carry BYU through the first third of the regular season. BYU will be without Yoeli Childs, the team’s leading scorer last season, for the team’s first nine games of the 2019-20 schedule.

“I don’t necessarily feel it just on my shoulders,” said Haws about playing without Childs. “We definitely have a lot of guys that can make baskets and can get stops on the defensive end so I feel good about our team as a whole and I think we’re gonna be just fine.”

BYU's Yoeli Childs and TJ Haws selected to the ALL-WCC Preseason Team.

— Mitch Harper KSL (@Mitch_Harper) October 3, 2019

Haws said that the Cougars will need to adjust their game plans without Childs but they are ready for that challenge.

“It definitely changes our strategy,” continued Haws. “It’s a bummer that we’re not gonna have Yoeli but it’s a really great opportunity for our team to come together. We’re gonna have to figure out ways to win without him but I’m really excited about it. It presents a great challenge for us and I think we’re gonna live up to that challenge.”

The Cougars open the season with Midnight Madness on October 23 at 10:30 p.m. (MDT).

Childs returns from suspension against the University of Utah on December 4.