BYU Basketball: Three burning questions as practices begin

As BYU Basketball starts practices, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered if the Cougars want to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Cougar fans, it’s time.

BYU Basketball tips off their preseason practices today as they gear up for the 2018-19 season. The schedule is out, and the Cougars will be looking to avoid a fourth straight trip to the NIT.

This is one of those NCAA Tournament or bust seasons for BYU.

But if they’re going to make a trip to the Big Dance, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered.

From some incoming players that could make an immediate impact to some returning players that need to step up, there are a lot of moving pieces that must be figured out before the season tips off.

Here are three major things to watch for during practices:

Which Emery and Haws will we see?

Nick Emery and TJ Haws have followed practically the same on-court career trajectory.

Both had impressive freshman seasons. Emery earned Second Team All-WCC and All-WCC Freshman Team honors, averaging 16.3 points on 38 percent three-point shooting. Haws earned First Team All-WCC and All-WCC Freshman Team honors, scoring 13.8 points per game on 40 percent shooting from distance.

Instead of improving as sophomores, both took steps backward. Emery’s wasn’t a huge step, as he still managed 13.7 points per game on 37 percent shooting from deep. Haws took a bigger step back, seeing his three-point shooting drop nearly 10 percentage points (31 percent) and his scoring average drop by two points.

The Cougars desperately need both players to play big. Emery is the Cougars’ best perimeter defender, and Haws is the team’s best creator and playmaker.

After serving his nine-game suspension, Emery needs to return to form, improving his shooting consistency.

With Elijah Bryant gone, Haws will see the ball in his hands a lot more, and he’s got to get his shooting back to keep defenses honest and open up the floor.