Carlino, Haws, & Collinsworth: BYU's "three-headed" monster

A three-headed monster is emerging in the roster of the BYU Basketball team. Tyler Haws, Matt Carlino, and Kyle Collinsworth are showing they have the potential to become the roughest back court beast BYU basketball has seen in years.

The Players

Last season Tyler Haws, in his sophomore year, averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Through two games this season Haws averages 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Last year Matt Carlino (also in his sophomore year) averaged 12 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. Through two games this season Carlino averages 24 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds.

Kyle Collinsworth, as a true freshman in 2010-11 before his mission, averaged 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Through two games this season Collinsworth averages 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. "Big Russia" almost averages a triple-double so far this season. Very impressive.

Tyler Haws and Matt Carlino are juniors, Collinsworth is only a sophomore. These three guys will be playing together all of this season and next season (if Haws doesn't forgo his senior season to enter the NBA draft). This "three-headed monster" as we'll call it, might be one of if not the best back courts in America.

With promising starters down low, the BYU Basketball team is shaping out to be equal to the task of working with this beast to a promising season.

Down low:

Eric Mika, the highly touted freshman from the National Champion Lone Peak team is the first true freshman to start at BYU in 15 years. That's remarkable. That shows us two things, (1) that he's that good and (2) BYU's basketball program has progressed significantly in recruiting.

Through two games, Eric Mika averages 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks per game. That's just what you want out of a true freshman big man. He will be serving a full-time 2-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after this season.

Junior Nate Austin averages 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks a game through two games. I don't think you can ask more out of him than that considering his skill set. He brings an energy and enthusiasm to the team that you can't just replicate.

Sparks off the bench:

The first spark that comes to mind is Anson Winder. He's a junior out of Nevada who, through two games, is averaging 8 points and 3 assists off the bench. He plays very good perimeter defense and if he can hit the open three, he can be the X-factor in games.

Junior Skyler Halford is very quick with the ball and is the fastest player on BYU's team. We know he can hit the three, considering he won the 3-point contest at BYU's Boom Shakalaka. Take that for what it's worth.

Frank Bartley hit a timely three-pointer to hold off a Stanford comeback in last night's game. He's only a true freshman.

Luke Worthington, also a true freshman provides a physical presence down low, and Josh Sharp, a junior, jumps around like he's on a pogo stick.

Any production you can get out of any players off the bench is icing on the cake for BYU. I really look forward to Anson Winder stepping up and being the most productive bench player for BYU. He's the most experienced guy off the bench along with Josh Sharp and has the physical tools to be a good player in that second unit.

With an impressive three-headed monster in play, a mean group down low and sparks off the bench, we can expect great things from BYU. That doesn't mean they're perfect though.

Stats for concern:

Matt Carlino averages 5 turnovers per game. BYU fans are used to this, I guess it is what it is.

Tyler Haws averages 72 percent from the free throw line. Used to be an automatic sure-shot from the charity stripe.

BYU as a team is shooting 68 percent from the free throw line. Games can be won and lost by free throws.

Where can you see the monster play again?

BYU vs. Mount St. Mary's

Where: Provo, UT, Marriott Center

Day: Friday, November 15th

Time: 9 pm ET, 7 pm MT

TV: BYUTV

Radio: KSL 1160 AM/ 102.7 FM, BYU Radio, Sirius XM 143