Rick Barnes explains why rarely used Tennessee freshman BJ Edwards got minutes vs. Missouri

BJ Edwards had not played in over two weeks. And even then, it was only in mop-up duty, with the freshman guard on the floor for No. 6 Tennessee for only two minutes in the late stages of a 70-41 blitzing of Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 25.

But there he was Saturday night, checking in out of a media timeout with 5:55 left in the first half against visiting Missouri, with the Vols trailing 29-23.

He stayed on the floor for six minutes in the first half, scoring on his first possession with a midrange jumper from the baseline, ending what had been a 10-0 Missouri run. He added two more points later on a pair of free throws with 2:08 left in the half, with Tennessee down 12.

Edwards earned his opportunity, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said after the game, from his work in practice. 

“I thought BJ … has gotten better ever since we started using him on scout team,” Barnes said. “We have watched him grow tremendously. We told him yesterday he better be ready. We had him (Saturday morning) with the scout team but we walked him through and talked him through and had him do some stuff that we normally do with the guys on game day.”

BJ Edwards had played just six minutes in SEC games before getting six minutes against Missouri

The four points Edwards scored were his most since scoring four in four minutes against McNeese Sate on November 30. He had five in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech, despite playing just three minutes.

Edwards played four minutes against Florida Gulf Coast on November 16 and two minutes against Butler on November 23 in the Battle 4 Atlantis. He played a season-high 10 minutes against Alcorn State on December 4, three minutes against Eastern Kentucky three days later and seven minutes against Austin Peay on December 21.

He had only played a combined six minutes over Tennessee’s first 11 SEC games, making only two appearances with four minutes at South Carolina on January 7 and two minutes against Georgia on January 25.

The two shots he attempted against Missouri matched a season high and were his most since McNeese State in November. 

“Other than getting picked right there, he looked calm, cool, and collected,” Barnes said. “We have always thought he is going to be a good guard and a good player for us. We still think that. For him not to play for games on end and go in and do that, I think speaks volumes about him.”

Up Next: No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Alabama, Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Tennessee was without senior wing Josiah-Jordan James, who was sidelined by the sprained left ankle he suffered in the final minute of the loss at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Freshman win Julian Phillips didn’t play in the second half for the Vols Saturday night against Missouri due to a hip flexor injury suffered Friday in practice. 

“He did everything since practice and today trying to get himself ready,” Barnes said of Phillips, who finished with four points and two rebounds in 10 minutes in he first half. “Came out and just gave us what he could.”

With James out, Barnes gave sophomore center Jonas Aidoo his first career start, another nod to work done on the practice floor.

“Just practice and what they have been doing for productivity,” Barnes said, referencing both Aidoo and Edwards. “Trying to do what we need them to do.”