Gonzaga-BYU key matchup: TJ Haws orchestrates Cougars’ offense

When BYU is the opponent, the key matchup can go to big man Yoeli Childs or point guard TJ Haws. We went with Childs, second in the West Coast Conference in scoring (21.3 ppg) and tops in rebounding (9.7), three weeks ago. We’ll go with Haws this time.

Haws runs the show, accounting for nearly 50 percent of BYU’s field goals over the last three games with 19 baskets and 17 assists. He averages 17.8 points and 5.1 assists, and leads the conference in free-throw percentage (87.1). The 6-foot-4 junior has three 30-point games this season.

Haws scored 16 points in Gonzaga’s 93-63 runaway in Provo, Utah. He’s made a team-high 52 3-pointers, but was 0 for 2 from distance in the first meeting. Josh Perkins, Geno Crandall and possibly Jeremy Jones are among the defenders likely to line up against Haws.