Friday night, the NCAA's reigning National Player of the Year and back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year made more history.
Zach Edey, Purdue University's 7 foot, 4 big man put up 30 points and 21 rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting in the Boilermakers' 78-50 drubbing of Grambling. Edey joined select company, becoming just the third player in 50 years to put up a stat line of at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in the tournament. The others were Kent Benson (1973) and Joe Smith (1995). Benson was the number one overall draft pick in the 1977 Draft, while Smith went first overall in 1995. Smith registered 31 points, 21 rebounds, seven blocked shots, and four steals against the University of Texas in the West Region's second round. The Terrapins lost in the Sweet 16 to the University of Connecticut.
How far the Boilermakers go this tournament remains to be seen, but it is clear that they will go as far as Edey takes them. In the regular season, he averaged 24.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. At 7'4, 305 pounds, the most comparable match-up in the tournament is Connecticut's 7 foot 2, 280 pound Donovan Clingan.
Edey figures to be a difficult fit at the next level in an era that favors more mobile, versatile centers. However, size cannot be taught and him being 7'4 provides him with a distinct advantage against a lot of big men. His experience playing for Team Canada at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, for which Canada took home the Bronze Medal, gave him valuable experience playing against pros in a highly competitive environment.
Purdue faces eighth-seeded Utah State on Sunday in the Round of 32.
Comentários