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Georgia Basketball: Is Mike Edwards the answer to the Bulldogs problems?

By Kyle Funderburk

Feb 27, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Fox draws a play for forward Mike Edwards (32) during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia defeated Mississippi 80-66. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Fox draws a play for forward Mike Edwards (32) during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia defeated Mississippi 80-66. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 22, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Fox reacts to play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Sprint Center. Kansas won 65-54. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Fox reacts to play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Sprint Center. Kansas won 65-54. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

The case against anyone else

There are other great players on the Georgia basketball team, but none are as good and consistent all around as Edwards besides Juwaun Parker. But with Parker, there’s always the question of will he get injured again? He missed the game against Morehouse and did not look like himself against Marquette.

His injury made him miss all of the 2015-16 season. If he can stay healthy, then he deserves to be that third guy for coach Fox to rely on besides Frazier and Maten. But if not, then he is just fine in the role he is in right now.

Then there’s Derek Ogbeide who is a great defender, and has the potential to be dominant down low, but he goes silent on offense way too often. He has also seen his minutes decrease since the George Washington game from 23, to 17 against Kansas, to around 12 these last three games. Edwards meanwhile has hung around 20 minutes since playing Kansas.

William Jackson is the last player in Georgia’s top six. He has shown a lot of potential as a scorer and distributor, but he’s yet to reach double figures in either points or assists. He also is not the defender that Edwards is.

Mike Edwards isn’t going to compete for SEC Player of the Year honors, his draft stock is not that high and he’s not yet a superstar player. But Georgia basketball needs another scorer when Maten or Frazier go cold, a rebounder when Maten and Ogbeide are off the court, and a consistent presence in the case of an injury. Mike Edwards is capable of being that guy.

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