With the regular season over and March Madness now upon us, it’s time to hand out end of year awards. While some awards were more clear-cut than others, each choice was carefully chosen after analyzing each player’s individual play and impact over the entire season.
Here are your Lawless Republic 2014-2015 Basketball award honors:
MVP: Kyle Collinworth
This was the most difficult one to hand out. Do you go with the guy that is BYU’s all-time leading scorer and is the focal point of every opposing team’s defense, or do you choose the player that holds the NCAA triple double record and leads his team in rebounds and assists? We went with the latter. While you certainly wouldn’t be wrong in choosing Tyler Haws as this year’s MVP, Kyle Collinworth’s impact seems marginally higher. His numbers this year: 14 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. The latter two were good for second in the WCC. When Nate Austin went down with a season-ending injury against Utah, Collinsworth had to take on the responsibility of being he team’s featured rebounder in addition to being the catalyst of the offense. Without Collinsworth’s rebounding, passing, and penetrating ability, this BYU team is sitting on the NIT bubble.
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Haws
We’ll give Tyler the nod as this year’s offensive player of the year. Haws is the most consistent scorer in BYU history. It is remarkable how efficient and how easily Tyler can put up 20 points game after game. Every opposing coach and player knows that BYU is looking to get the ball to Haws on every possession, yet he finds ways to get open and make tough shots. Enjoy these last games with him Cougar fans. We likely won’t see another player like Tyler Haws come around for a very long time.
Defensive Player of the Year: Corbin Kaufusi
Kaufusi’s progression this year has been one of main reasons BYU is likely dancing this season. Kaufusi had his fair share of struggles this year as he adjusted to the rigors Division-I basketball and post-mission rust. His play during the back half of WCC play, however, has been huge and has given BYU a solid post presence. His rebounding ability has drastically improved, as has his on-ball and help side defense. His block of Gonzaga big man Domantas Sabonis might be my favorite play of the whole year.
Yup...#byuhoops pic.twitter.com/tMjcbrAEMc
— David Almodova (@DKaulana) March 1, 2015
Most Improved: Anson Winder
Winder was the clear-cut choice for this award until Skyler Halford’s late season emergence in WCC play. Despite Halford’s play, which has been great, Winder gets the nod as Most Improved player. Winder has been slowed by a slew of injuries over the past month, but his impact this season is still considerable nonetheless. He is BYU’s best perimeter defender and is the team’s third leading scorer, averaging 13 points per game. His performance against Umass stands out, as he carried BYU to an overtime win over the minutemen with Tyler Haws nursing a bum ankle.
6th Man of the Year: Skyler Halford
Halford’s role has dramatically increased as the season has rolled along. He went from a DNP vs San Diego State, to one of the catalysts in BYU’s upset over Gonzaga. What he lacks in size he makes up for with 100% effort and shooting prowess. He leads BYU in 3 point shooting percentage at 48% and puts up almost 9 points a game. Without Halford’s late season emergence, BYU is likely not dancing this season.
Newcomer of the Year: Chase Fischer
The Wake Forest transfer had one of the best 3 point shooting season’s in BYU history. He nailed 97 threes this season, which is only behind Jimmer Fredette’s 120 for most three pointers in a single season. BYU’s success could often be tied to Fischer’s shooting. When Fischer was on, BYU was tough to beat. Conversely, when was off, BYU often struggled.
What do you think Cougar Nation? Do you agree with the award winners? Let us know in the comments below or on twitter (@lawlessrepublic)