Busting Brackets
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BYU Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Cougars

By Tristan Freeman

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 25: The BYU Cougars celebrate their 79-71 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 25, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 25: The BYU Cougars celebrate their 79-71 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 25, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Nick Emery
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Nick Emery /

Starting Lineup

SO T.J. Haws

The younger brother of the school’s all-time scoring leader Tyler Haws, T.J. showed some scoring ability while averaging 13.8 ppg in his freshmen year. His small stature can make him a defensive liability at times, with opposing guards able to score easily. With Mika gone, TJ may have to score like his brother to help the Cougars become contenders.

JR Nick Emery

One of the leaders on this team, Nick had an up and down sophomore campaign. His scoring went down a bit, but the biggest concern was that he didn’t show up in the games against the Zags and Gaels. Consistency will be key for the junior this season.

JR Elijah Bryant

The biggest enigma on the roster, Bryant battled through several knee issues in an inconsistent first year with BYU. While his 39-point performance against Portland showed his potential, he’s playing a role far different from when he was at Elon, where he was the primary ball handler. The goal for the coaching staff is to have his role defined for this season.

SO Yoeli Childs

The former top-50 prospect from Utah played well in his first season, finishing in the top-10 in rebounding for the conference. Probably the best athlete on the team, Yoeli dominated small teams at the four spot, including a 23 point, 16 rebound game at San Francisco. At 6’8″, he did struggle with the bigger teams he played against, so his match-ups will be key to watch for.

SO Payton Dastrup

He was relegated to the bench last season, but with Mika gone, the five spot is up for grabs. A former top-100 player with plenty of potential and a full off-season to get ready, expect Payton to take this spot.