SMU coach Andy Enfield believes star forward B.J. Edwards’ right ankle would have been ready by Friday if the Mustangs had found a way to advance out of the First Four at .
Only SMU didn’t, with the senior guard out of the lineup. The Mustangs had indicated Edwards might have been available for the tournament at large, which the NCAA selection committee indicated played a factor in in the 68-team field.
Enfield brushed off the suggestion that the fact Edwards didn’t play could hurt how the selection committee views the Mustangs in the future.
鈥淲e deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament if you look at all our metrics and our wins,鈥� Enfield said. 鈥淲e all thought that B.J. would be back.鈥�
Enfield described Edwards’ injury as 鈥渟erious.” Edwards hadn’t played since tweaking the ankle . Enfield credited Edwards for making every effort to be available by Wednesday. Instead, Edwards 鈥� who averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists 鈥� was 鈥渁 day short鈥� of being cleared by SMU’s medical staff.
鈥淚t was heartbreaking when he said, 鈥業鈥檓 just not quite (there),’鈥� Enfield said. 鈥淲e thought he鈥檇 be right there. But it鈥檚 a very heartbreaking thing to have someone that wants to be out there and just can鈥檛 do it. It didn鈥檛 feel comfortable quite yet.鈥�
The Mustangs (20-14) made the tournament despite an 8-10 mark in the ACC. Their resume did include wins over conference powers North Carolina and Louisville, though they also lost to struggling Syracuse.
鈥淎s far as the committee, what they鈥檙e 鈥� we deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament, bottom line,鈥� Enfield said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty to the point right there.鈥�
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