The West Coast Conference announced it’s All-Conference Team in Men’s Basketball for the 2018-19 season this morning. And while Yoeli Childs made the First Team for the 2nd consecutive season, TJ Haws was not listed amongst what was published as the league’s list for its ten best players.
The West Coast Conference announced its All-Conference Team in Men’s Basketball for the 2018-19 season this morning. And while Yoeli Childs made the First Team for the 2nd consecutive season, TJ Haws was not listed amongst what was published as the league’s list for its ten best players. However, Haws was honored as a member on the WCC’s Second Team, his 3rd straight all-conference recognition. But the question needs to be asked, with Haws’ impressive junior campaign that included new career highs including 35 points at San Diego, should he have made First Team All-WCC?
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The 2018-19 All-WCC Men’s Basketball First Team:
James Batemon Sr. G LMU
Yoeli Childs Jr. F BYU
Brandon Clarke Jr. F Gonzaga
Frankie Ferrari Sr. G San Francisco
Jordan Ford Jr. G Saint Mary’s
Rui Hachimura Jr. F Gonzaga
Zach Norvell Jr. So. G Gonzaga
Josh Perkins Sr. G Gonzaga
Isaiah Pineiro Sr. F San Diego
Colbey Ross So. G Pepperdine
Congrats to @yochilds22, @tjhaws30, and @gbax35 for their All-WCC honors! #BYU #BYUHoops #ESPN960
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) March 5, 2019
CONGRATS to @tjhaws30 on being named to the All-WCC Second Team!!
This is @tjhaws30 third-straight season earning All-WCC recognition.#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/hFBwWGGEXz
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) March 5, 2019
The Case for TJ Haws
If Haws’ case for the First Team and a place amongst the WCC elites is legit, the stats should show it, right? TJ has made great improvements from his sophomore to junior seasons and is +6.3 PPG, +0.9 RPG, +0.9 APG, and has increased his FG shooting over 6%! But even with those increases does he fit in the West Coast’s top tier? Here’s how his season statistics compare to the First Team players:
Just running through the numbers, it’s pretty clear to see Haws has had a better overall season than at least one WCC player…
TJ Haws has better stats across the board when compared to LMU’s James Batemon with the exception of Steals Per Game, a stat that Batemon leads the WCC in.
In Conference Head-to-Head
But First Team All-WCC is a conference honor. So season totals shouldn’t be factored in some might say. Well let’s look and see how Haws and Batemon compare when only WCC play is considered:
Again, Haws is the clear winner. The two are equals in the rebounding game and Batemon leads TJ slightly in steals. But other than that Haws is the better player.
My theory is that Batemon is a senior and Haws is a junior and the selection was made with that understanding. The WCC knows TJ Haws will be back next season and a likely favorite to make the First Team as a senior. Batemon also fulfills the seemingly one honoree per team quota as he was LMU’s best option and Yoeli Childs had already been selected from BYU.
Keep your head up Teej! There’s always next year. But stats don’t lie. You were robbed.
2nd POTD: Why do you think TJ Haws got snubbed from the WCC 1st Team? #BYU #ESN960 #BYUHoops
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) March 5, 2019
