In a season already filled with twists and turns for the Bradley basketball team, freshman guards Dyricus Simms-Edwards and Jake Eastman switched roles on the BU roster Wednesday prior to the nonconference game against Loyola at Carver Arena.
Simms-Edwards, the 6-foot-2 Peorian who had played so well in the Braves’ first eight games — earning 17 minutes per game because of solid defense and floor play while averaging 4.6 points per game — will be sidelined for 3-6 weeks because of a stress reaction in his left foot.
Simms-Edwards still could receive a medical redshirt for this season, a decision that will be determined based on how he heals, said BU coach Jim Les.
NCAA rules allow a player to appear in 30 percent of his team’s games and still apply for a redshirt as long as the action occurs during the first half of the season. The cutoff for Simms-Edwards was nine games.
“We’re fortunate he caught it early before it became a stress fracture,” said Les. “He told us about it after practice Monday.
“Dyricus is a tough kid and I’m sure will want to play in three weeks whether he should or not. We’ll be conservative with it as we are with all of our injured players. This is one step before a stress fracture, which he had when he was at Washington (High).”
The development has caused Les to lift the redshirt of the 6-4 Eastman, effective immediately.
“We told Jake and Jordan (Prosser) their redshirt was based on the luxury of the depth we had,” Les said. “Jake’s excited for the opportunity. And we won’t talk about depth anymore.”
Simms-Edwards joins senior guard Dodie Dunson on the sidelines. Dunson broke his left arm in the home opener and is being redshirted this season.
“The myriad of different kinds of injuries we’ve had over the years is a little mind-boggling,” Les said. “I tell the guys to look at it as the glass being half full and somebody’s misfortune being somebody else’s opportunity.
“We feel bad for Dyricus. He was really grasping our system and his role on the team. He was very productive.”
Simms-Edwards was wearing a protective boot on his left leg at the Braves’ game Wednesday night against Loyola.
“I wasn’t really surprised because I’ve had a stress fracture before and knew what it felt like,” he said. “I’m actually happy it’s not a stress fracture. I’m trying to look on the bright side of things. I could be back in 3-6 weeks. I’ll be back.”
In other BU news, director of basketball operations Kyle Vogt has received a promotion, and former player Jeremy Crouch has joined the coaching staff in Vogt’s old position.
Vogt becomes an interim assistant coach, replacing assistant coach Steve Merfeld, who left the program unexpectedly Dec. 6 after an apparent rift within the coaching staff.
Les said the titles were interim for both Vogt and Crouch.
“This is Kyle’s sixth year with us and he’s a loyal, hard worker,” Les said. “I’m excited to give him the opportunity.”
Crouch, a 2008 BU graduate and the program’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals, will be coaching for the first time.
He played professionally last year in Germany, but did not return to Europe because of a foot injury.
“We want to make a point of ‘Once a Brave, always a Brave,’ ’’ Les said. “Jeremy has been very proactive of being around and grasping as much coaching as he can. He already has a real good understanding of our system.”
Dave Reynolds can be reached at 686-3210 or at dreynolds@pjstar.com.
