I decided to look this up, because it's been bugging me, and as I've gone through it all, fair warning, I've gotten angrier.
So against Miami the dude plays 23 minutes and puts up a solid line of 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block. Seems like something to build off of.
WELL YOU'RE WRONG.
Because since then he's appeared in 3 games for a total of 5 minutes.
You know why I question JB's bench management?
Because the 2 minute stint against VPI, an opponent we beat that we didn't really need size for, mattered more for his playing time than the good he did when we were forced to give him some minutes. Remember, it probably wasn't a master plan for Edwards to play against Miami, Edwards came in because Marek got in bad foul trouble very early in that game.
Out of Edward's 10 appearances this season, 6 have been for 2 minutes or less (more on this in a little bit). What exactly is he supposed to show in such brief playing time, often outside of the competitive game flow when the result is pretty much already decided? The dude isn't getting chances. Outside of Miami, he has three shot attempts on the season. Three (3). And this from a guy that last season connected on 19 of 24 shot attempts, or 79%(!).
Which brings me to how little sense this year's numbers make when compared to his playing time last season. I checked it out, want to guess
how many games he played in last season? I promise you won't believe it.
21.
So last season, with a healthy Sidibe, and minutes also going to Marek at the 5, Edwards somehow found his way into the game with greater frequency than this season. Somehow as a true freshman with upperclassmen ahead of him he was more prepared to play than in his second year? How is that possible? Really, how?
But it's not just that he got in the game more, he also played more once he was in. Six out of 10 appearances this season he's played 2 or fewer minutes. Last season, in 21 appearances he played 2 or fewer minutes... 4 times. How does that make sense?
It's mind boggling. In a season when we had 2 players soaking up minutes at center, he somehow found a way to have really productive minutes - his per 40s were 13.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals. THAT SOUNDS PRETTY FRICKING PROMISING FOR A GUY NEW TO COLLEGE HOOPS. And maybe sounds like a guy that when your senior center goes down with an injury 4 minutes into the first game, might be a dude that's worth investing some minutes in.
But nah, it's cool, we gassed Marek and threw in Frankie Anselem and Jon Bol Ajak for scrap minutes.
So, I really would like to know, what the Hell happened here? What was the plan with Edwards? Because this really doesn't make any sense, and I'm not content with any easy answers because they all indicate another problem elsewhere. Edwards regressed? How and why does that happen? Covid impacts? I'm just not sure I buy it.