Bill Edwards is ready to play. If there’s some discomfort in doing that, so be it.

The Miami University redshirt junior missed a large chunk of the 2011-12 season with a right wrist injury that he continues to rehabilitate. But Edwards plans to be on the court tonight when the RedHawks host Maryville (Mo.) in their only exhibition game.

“It’s just something I’ve got to work around and adjust to as a player,” said Edwards, a Middletown High School graduate. “I’m trying to go out there and play every day and just not think about it.”

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Edwards is a lefty on the basketball court, but a right-hander for everything else. He said he’s having some difficulty gripping with his right hand.

New RedHawks coach John Cooper said the injury doesn’t appear to be hampering Edwards in practice.

“I don’t have the benefit of knowing him before, but I’ll be honest, I don’t even notice it,” Cooper said. “He doesn’t seem to be favoring it in any way. It’s just a gradual process of getting better and stronger and making sure the confidence level continues to grow.”

Edwards participated in just seven games last season, averaging 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. He said the injury occurred during Miami’s exhibition game against California (Pa.).

“I think there was like 30 seconds to go in the game,” Edwards recalled. “I was driving up the court and a guy kind of chucked me into the scorer’s table. The next thing I know it’s 3 a.m. and I’m miserable. I couldn’t handle the pain.”

The original diagnosis was a broken wrist. It was changed to a separation of ligaments from bone. Edwards chose to keep playing, but soon decided that shutting his season down was the right thing to do.

“It just got worse,” Edwards said. “I remember at UC, my hand got caught in (Dion) Dixon’s jersey on the first possession. It was things like that. It just kept nagging.”

He underwent surgery and had a screw placed in the wrist (the screw is still there). Miami, under the direction of veteran coach Charlies Coles, stumbled to a 9-21 campaign.

“As a group, we all had a hand in it,” Edwards said. “It was a sad way to send our seniors out, but it’s time for us to regroup and try to put Miami back on the map.”

Edwards described his wrist rehab as “an every-day process. Whether it’s moving marbles, hand in the rice, different gripping techniques … it’s just anything possible to help.”

He played at Penn State as a freshman before transferring to Miami. Cooper said he isn’t elevating his expectations for Edwards simply because he played in the Big Ten.

“The game of basketball has different levels, but it’s all relative,” Cooper said. “You’ve got to have good habits. You’ll look in the draft this year and there will be guys that you don’t know, guys that are going to come from leagues you haven’t heard of. It doesn’t matter. The game pays back those players that work. That’s the bottom line.”

Edwards said the players are adjusting to the Cooper regime. He believes the up-tempo style will suit this squad.

“The coaches are pushing us every day. It’s something we need,” Edwards said. “For the most part, we’re in very good shape, and we’re looking to get in great shape. Coach Coop comes in and expects a lot. He doesn’t take anything. It’s just about business. We get in here, we get the job done, and we get out.”

Edwards is listed as a forward, but has the skills to play on the perimeter. Where will he play this year?

“I’m one of those guys that’s not crazy about the position thing. I think that stuff’s overrated,” Cooper said. “The question is, are we allowing guys to use their skill package, and how do we incorporate that into what we do?

“Bill has the ability to pass the ball. He’s very good at picking up things and understanding what’s going on. It comes very naturally to him.”

Edwards said he’s “more than excited” about starting the season.

“We’ve got a firecracker in William Felder coming in this year,” Edwards said. “We’ve got a lot of guys determined, some freshmen that can put the ball in the hoop. We want to have Miami fans excited to come out and watch us play. We want to make Millett a great home atmosphere.”