BYU basketball set for another crucial week — including big family events off the court for Pope, Haws

PROVO — It’s another important week for the BYU basketball program with upcoming home games against Pepperdine and Saint Mary’s. 

But it’s a big week off the court, too, for the Cougars.

Coach Mark Pope’s oldest daughter, Ella, is entering the Provo Missionary Training Center Wednesday to prepare for her 18-month service in the Ecuador Guayaquil West Mission.

“She’s so excited,” Pope said.

And how is Pope feeling?

“I don’t know. I don’t have the words yet. I think I’m avoiding it,” he said last week. “We’re so invested in all these things and she’s ready. She’s an extraordinary human being. She’s going to do special things. We’ll see how next week goes.”

Meanwhile, senior guard TJ Haws and his wife, Lauren, are expecting the couple’s first child. Lauren is scheduled to be induced Sunday, the day after the Saint Mary’s game. 

In last Saturday’s 83-82 loss at San Francisco, Haws scored 20 points and he reached a couple of significant career milestones. 

First, he started in his 123rd consecutive game, the most in school history, surpassing Jeff Chatman’s 122 straight. 

Then midway through the first half, Haws drilled a 3-pointer to give him eight points, surpassing Mekeli Wesley and moving into the top 10 in scoring at BYU at No. 10. Haws also ranks fourth all-time in school history in 3-pointers made, ninth in steals and fifth in assists.

Haws now has recorded 1,753 career points. His older brother, Tyler, is the Cougars’ all-time leading scorer with 2,720 career points. Tyler Haws holds the school record for total games started at 137.

TJ Haws’ consistency and toughness should serve him well as a new father. 

“TJ’s a terrific player. He is a competitor and he’s really skilled. He’s trying to do things the way that we ask him to do it. He’s a special player,” Pope said. “You think about doing anything more and better and longer than anybody in the history of BYU has done it, that’s really hard to do. There’s a museum of great players here.”

Meanwhile, the Cougars checked in at No. 29 in the NCAA’s NET rankings Monday. Saint Mary’s is No. 34 and Pepperdine is No. 134. The Cougars are No. 23 in the Kenpom.com rankings, ahead of Saint Mary’s (No. 35) and Pepperdine (No. 146).

The Waves boast the week’s reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week, Kameron Edwards, who averaged 18.5 points and 11 rebounds in their wins over Santa Clara on the road and Portland at home.