BYU sports links: volleyball team earns honors, TJ Haws is on fire

In case we needed a reminder that the future is bright for BYU basketball, Cougar-to-be TJ Haws gave us all a reminder, breaking the Lone Peak scoring record by dropping 40 points on Westlake, beating Cougar Nick Emery’s record of 39. Haws hit an NBA-Jam like seven threes, in front of several of soon to be BYU teammates, who were no doubt double checking NCAA bylaws to see if Hawes could somehow suit up later in WCC play this year. Haws' game isn't without flaws (but hey, you could say that about any high schooler), but he has the potential to really be something when he suits up in Cougar blue.

In other news, BYU volleyball player Taylor Sander was named MPSF player of the week, after BYU's outstanding week, including a major upset of then #1 Long Beach State. Sander totaled 38 kills for the weekend, including a season-high 24 against the 49ers, grabbing his 4th career player of the week award. A heck of a week for the Cougars, and some well deserved recognition for Sander.

Dick Harmon at the DN takes stock of where the trajectory of Tayson Hill might be, comparing him to Steve Young at this point in his career. With a pair of two giant new faces catching passes (6-6 JUCO Nick Kurtz and 6-8 RM TE Matt Sumsion), the potential to improve his accuracy and efficiency is there, and BYU will need every bit of it if they want to improve next season.

Finally, "Dr" Jerry Palm at CBS has his latest edition of his bracket predictions, and to no surprise, BYU isn't on the board. Gonzaga has the lone WCC bid as an 8 seed, paired up with 9 seeded VCU. It's early, and BYU still has games against the proverbial "big guns" of the WCC to make up some ground, but climbing back into the NCAAs may be a difficult climb for the regular season.