SMU guard B.J. Edwards ruled out for First Four loss to Miami (Ohio) after selection committee cited expected return

Southern Methodist University (SMU) lost 89-79 to Miami (Ohio) in the First Four of the 2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on March 18, 2025, at University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio.[1][2] Guard B.J. Edwards, who had missed the final six regular-season games due to injury, was listed as out on the final injury report approximately two hours before tipoff.[3]

SMU, which entered the tournament with a 20-12 record after finishing second in the American Athletic Conference at 13-5, received a No. 11 seed as one of the final at-large bids.[1][4] The Mustangs went 1-5 in the six games Edwards missed, prompting debate over their resume ahead of Selection Sunday on March 16.[5]

NCAA Selection Committee chair Keith Gill, speaking on CBS during the bracket reveal, said Edwards' anticipated return factored into SMU's inclusion. "One of their important players, B.J. Edwards, lost five of six of those games," Gill said. "He's coming back. He's the third-leading scorer, defensive player. And so, the quality of wins and obviously them getting back to full strength allowed them to kind of get that last spot."[5][6]

Edwards, a junior guard averaging 10.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game, did not travel with the team initially but joined practices leading up to the game.[3][7] SMU had indicated to the committee that it expected Edwards to be available for the First Four matchup.[5]

Following the loss, SMU coach Andy Enfield said Edwards had practiced well in the days prior but was not fully game-ready. "He looked really good in practice today, last couple days, he shot the ball well," Enfield said. "He's moving well, but ... there's a thing called game readiness, and he just didn't feel like he was quite game ready. He said, 'I could definitely play on Friday, if we win this game.'"[3][8]

Sources

1. NCAA; "2025 NCAA tournament scores: Miami holds off SMU in First Four thriller"; March 19, 2025; https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/d1/article/2025-03-19/2025-ncaa-first-four-mens-schedule-scores-bracket
2. ESPN; "Miami (OH) 89-79 SMU (18 Mar 2025) Final Score"; March 18, 2025; https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401768285/miami-ohio-smu
3. SMU Athletics; "Mustangs Fall in First Four"; March 19, 2025; https://smuathletics.com/news/2025/3/18/mens-basketball-mustangs-fall-in-first-four.aspx
4. NCAA; "2025 Men's Basketball Bracket"; March 16, 2025; https://www.ncaa.com/bracket/basketball-men/d1/2025
5. CBS Sports; "NCAA tournament bubble team SMU makes field thanks in part to expected return of injured B.J. Edwards"; March 16, 2025; https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-tournament-bubble-team-smu-makes-field-thanks-in-part-to-expected-return-of-injured-b-j-edwards/
6. The Athletic; "How SMU made the NCAA tournament field on the bubble"; March 17, 2025; https://theathletic.com/6221470/2025/03/17/smu-ncaa-tournament-bubble-edwards/
7. SMU Athletics; "Player Bio: B.J. Edwards"; Accessed October 2025; https://smuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/b-j-edwards/24791
8. Associated Press; "Miami beats SMU 89-79 in First Four despite SMU's late rally"; March 19, 2025; https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-first-four-miami-smu-edwards-...