Former Tennessee Guard Faces Vols in March Madness

BJ Edwards, who played one season for Tennessee, now stars for SMU and could meet the Vols in the first round.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:21am

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Tennessee basketball could potentially face off against former player BJ Edwards in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Edwards, a graduate of Knoxville Catholic, played one season for the Volunteers in 2022-23 before transferring to SMU, where he has blossomed into a key contributor for the Mustangs. If SMU defeats Miami (OH) in the First Four, they would advance to face Tennessee, the 6-seed in the Midwest Region.

Why it matters

This potential matchup presents an interesting storyline, as Edwards was once a Tennessee player who has since found success at another program. It also highlights the transfer portal's impact on college basketball, as players like Edwards can move between schools and potentially face their former teams in high-stakes tournament games.

The details

During his lone season at Tennessee in 2022-23, Edwards played in 14 games, scoring 17 points and adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists. He then transferred to SMU, where he has steadily improved his production over the past three seasons. This year, Edwards is averaging career-highs of 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game for the Mustangs.

  • Edwards played for Tennessee during the 2022-23 season.
  • Edwards has been at SMU for the past three seasons, since transferring after his year at Tennessee.
  • SMU and Miami (OH) will play in a First Four game on Wednesday, March 20, 2026.
  • The winner of that game will face Tennessee, the 6-seed in the Midwest Region, on Friday, March 22, 2026.

The players

BJ Edwards

A former guard for the Tennessee Volunteers who is now a key player for the SMU Mustangs, averaging career-highs of 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season.

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, who expressed regret that Edwards left the program after his freshman season.

Colin Coyne

A former Tennessee forward who was a teammate of Edwards during the 2022-23 season and is now a graduate assistant with the Volunteers.

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What they’re saying

“Not a lot, but we certainly didn't want BJ to leave when he left. But he felt with Zakai (Zeigler) and those guys. BJ is one of the special kids that we've had. I mean, he's a great person, mother's a great lady and I know just we're all happy for him.”

— Rick Barnes, Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers (rockytopinsider.com)

What’s next

If SMU defeats Miami (OH) in the First Four, they will advance to face Tennessee, the 6-seed in the Midwest Region, on Friday, March 22, 2026.

The takeaway

This potential matchup between former Tennessee player BJ Edwards and his current team, the SMU Mustangs, against his former school highlights the impact of the transfer portal in college basketball. Edwards has found success at SMU after leaving Tennessee, and this game could provide an interesting storyline and reunion for the young guard.