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The Rise of Tyler Harvey and the Eastern Washington Eagles

By Rakesh Bi

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Behind one of the top scorers in Division I hoops, the Eastern Washington Eagles have been a deadly offensive force this season. What is behind their newfound success?

Tyler Harvey is a name that may not be familiar to the average college basketball fan, but once you take a closer look at the way things have been unfolding this year for the Eastern Washington Eagles, it is easy to see that the guard has been a crucial part of their leap. Not only that, but he is also looking like one of the hottest scorers in the NCAA.

Harvey was, without a doubt, coming off a productive year as he entered 2014–15, but it’s looked like he has still managed to be more conducive to Eastern Washington’s long-range shooting this season…and statistics are there to back it up. Connecting on 4.3 field goals per game from downtown, he is arguably the best three-point shooter in the NCAA.

Harvey is making a bid for the scoring title as well, with a Division I-best 23.4 points a contest, and never fails to deliver, regardless of his opponents’ strength. He was the one to post a solid 24 points at SMU, notch 21 more in a nail-biting defeat to ranked Washington, and go for 31 in a road game vs Cal. Below are Harvey’s per game stats from throughout his stint at the collegiate level, according to Sports Reference:

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Nevertheless, Harvey has been criticized of being a one-dimensional player. Jim Hayford seemed to have the better argument, though, when he spoke after a game in late January. “Tyler is a very special player and he is an unselfish player. The more attention he draws, the better it is for everyone else,” said Hayford. “He is good at finding other guys and some of his assists weren’t credited as assists.”

With Harvey continuing to show his limitless offensive capabilities, the big question emerged: Where would Eastern Washington be without their star guard? But thanks to the quadriceps contusion he faced coming into February, EWU has already made it clear that they’re not going anywhere without #1. Drew Brandon has proven to be the difference-maker in Harvey’s absence, and his sheer versatility has been alarming. The senior lifted his team to a road win over Montana with 27 points and 6 rebounds and has recorded a double-double in four of his last five appearances.

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The Eagles haven’t come across a dangerous opponent since Harvey was sidelined, but they do know how to handle an injury. Hayford’s team lost impactful big man Venky Jois earlier this season, before routing two middle-of-the-pack Big Sky teams. In their three-game stand without Jois, EWU only lost to the league-leading Sacramento State Hornets.

Harvey has acted as a catalyst in Eastern Washington’s breakout season, but it’s really been the team effort that has allowed them become a serious contender for the Big Sky. The team finished 2013–14 with a mere 10-10 record on the conference slate and an even poorer 15-16 overall. The Eagles, in the case that Harvey does not make his long-awaited return earlier, may be short-handed in their upcoming showdown vs Sac State, but there is no doubting that the progress they’ve made this year is impressive.

Next: Virginia Cavaliers: State of the team without Justin Anderson

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