Miami's Bill Edwards out for the season

Bad news for Miami basketball today: RedHawks forward Bill Edwards, widely expected to be a key part of John Cooper's new offensive system, was lost for the season in last week's game against James Madison thanks to a ligament tear in his knee. He'll have corrective surgery. Edwards lost most of last season to a wrist injury, after already sitting out a season following his transfer from Penn State. No word yet on whether he will seek a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility (the injury came early enough in the season that he'd qualify).

This may be a big blow to the RedHawks' productivity. Although freshman guard Reggie Johnson has been a standout surprise so far, averaging 11.6 points a game (including 21 against JMU), Edwards has been an important presence both in the paint and on the perimeter, entering the JMU game averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. His ability to hit the three made him especially dangerous for a power forward.

In his absence, Will Felder and Jon Harris will have to step up their production, and Miami desperately needs Josh Sewell to return from an ankle injury of his own. News of Edwards' injury comes as Miami enters a key four-game road stretch in the out-of-conference schedule, with games at IPFW, Evansville, Dayton, and Wright State--a set that will be far more telling about just how the RedHawks are progressing in John Cooper's first year than anything Miami's done to date.