Purdue's Zach Edey Wins 2nd Straight Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award
Apr 7, 2024
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - APRIL 06: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers jogs across the court in the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at State Farm Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Purdue's Zach Edey will have the opportunity to finish his collegiate career with a national championship Monday, but first, he took home more hardware Sunday.
Edey won the 2024 Naismith Men's College Player of the Year award and defeated fellow finalists in North Carolina's RJ Davis, Tennessee's Dalton Knecht and Houston's Jamal Shead. The big man is the first to win the award two years in a row since Virginia's Ralph Sampson did so in 1983.
That was Sampson's third straight Naismith.
Edey already won the Associated Press Player of the Year for the second straight season, which was also the first time someone accomplished the task since Sampson's impressive run with the Cavaliers.
That the Purdue star took home his latest honor comes as no surprise.
He was dominant throughout the season while helping lead the Boilermakers to a Big Ten regular-season championship and national championship game appearance. He averaged 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 62.5 percent from the field.
Edey also became the first player in NCAA history with at least 800 points, 400 rebounds, 50 assists and 50 blocks in a single season and the only player outside Hall of Famer David Robinson with at least 2,200 career points, 1,200 career rebounds and 200 career blocks with a career field-goal percentage of over 60.
The best part for Purdue and its fans is the Naismith winner has been even better with a national title on the line.
In fact, nobody has been able to stop Edey in the Big Dance:
First Round: 30 points, 21 rebounds, 3 blocks in 78-50 win over Grambling
Second Round: 23 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks in 106-67 win over Utah State
Sweet 16: 27 points, 14 rebounds in 80-68 win over Gonzaga
Elite Eight: 40 points, 16 rebounds in 72-66 win over Tennessee
Final Four: 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks in 63-50 win over NC State
His biggest challenge is yet to come in Monday's national title game against the reigning champions in UConn. The Huskies have won every NCAA tournament game by at least 14 points and have their own star big man in Donovan Clingan to counter Edey.
Still, Edey has cemented his place in college basketball history regardless of how that game unfolds
NCAA Championship Game 2024: Early Preview, Predictions for UConn vs. Purdue
Apr 7, 2024
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - APRIL 06: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates in the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at State Farm Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The field of 68 is down to two teams and the NCAA men's national championship game is set.
In a battle of top seeds, No. 1 Purdue will face No. 1 UConn in the NCAA Tournament title game on Monday.
The Boilermakers took care of business against No. 11 NC State in the Final Four Saturday, ending the Wolfpack's miraculous Cinderella run. NC State kept things manageable through the first half and much of the second half, but Purdue used a 12-1 run to gain some breathing room late and win the game 63-50.
Now, the Boilermakers will play in the championship game for the first time since 1969, when they fell to UCLA.
The Huskies played a tight match with No. 4 Alabama in their Final Four matchup with the Crimson Tide keeping things close in the final minutes. UConn managed to use a plethora of runs to pull away and advance to the national championship with an 86-72 win.
Taking a look at Monday's matchup, the obvious X-factor for Purdue is star center Zach Edey. He had 20 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday, continuing an outstanding March Madness run that has seen him average 28 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. The 7'4" senior had 40 points against Tennessee in the Elite Eight.
Edey is adept at getting to the free-throw line, averaging 11.2 attempts per game in the tournament. That can help Purdue get some easy points at the line, but it can also get the Huskies in foul trouble and perhaps force them to pull some of their starters earlier than they would like.
Purdue's offense runs primarily through Edey, but the Boilermakers' perimeter will need to step up to keep up with UConn's offensive firepower.
Purdue's second-leading scorer, Braden Smith, has had a relatively quiet tournament averaging 8.4 points per game. Smith shot 43.9 percent from deep during the regular season, but that number has slipped to 34.8 in tournament play. If Smith finds himself open, he'll need to hit his shots to keep Purdue in the game.
The Boilermakers will obviously have a giant in the paint in Edey, but UConn has one on its side in Donovan Clingan. The senior center, who stands 7'2", is an elite rim protector, averaging 2.5 blocks per game this season. Edey has been dominant in the paint all tournament, but he hasn't seen a defender like Clingan yet.
But as previously mentioned, Edey is tremendous at drawing fouls. Even college basketball's best defenders fall victim trying to defend Edey, and it will be key for Clingan to avoid foul trouble. If the Huskies have to put Clingan on the bench, Edey will have a field day around the rim.
On offense, UConn's best scorers will need to come through after being somewhat inconsistent throughout the tournament. The team's leading scorer, Tristen Newton, had big performances in the Round of 32 and Sweet 16, but had just five points in the Elite Eight. In Saturday's Final Four matchup, he had 12 points.
Stephon Castle has had a decent tournament so far, but has also been inconsistent with 14, 7, 16, 2 and 21-point performances throughout the tournament. Newton, Castle and the rest of the Huskies will need to have big performances to take down the Boilermakers.
A high-scoring affair seems like a given in this year's national championship. UConn has the top adjusted offensive efficiency in KenPom with Purdue holding the No. 3 adjusted offensive efficiency.
The Huskies and Boilermakers have arguably been the two best teams this season, and it's only fitting the two teams meet in the national championship.
Will UConn repeat as the champ or will Purdue claim its first title in program history? We will find out Monday at 9:20 p.m. ET.
Prediction: UConn 84, Purdue 78
Purdue's Zach Edey Outplays NC State's DJ Burns Jr., Wows CBB Fans in Final Four Win
Apr 7, 2024
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - APRIL 06: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers handles the ball while being guarded by DJ Burns Jr. #30 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second half in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at State Farm Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It was a battle of the big men at the Final Four.
Purdue center Zach Edey and NC State center D.J. Burns Jr. were catalysts for their respective programs heading into the semi-final matchup, but it was Edey and the Boilermakers who got it done Saturday to advance to the national championship.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2024
The 63-50 victory advanced Purdue to the national championship for the second time in program history. The first occurrence came in 1969, when the Boilermakers lost to UCLA.
Edey had 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, leading his team in scoring. Burns was less effective for the Wolfpack, managing eight points, four assists and one assist. Edey clearly won the matchup, although the two were seen laughing at one point during the game, so they appear to be on friendly terms.
Edey and the Boilermakers will now shift focus to the national championship game. Purdue will face either Alabama or UConn in that game as it looks to bring home the elusive championship.
That game will take place on Monday.
Purdue's Zach Edey: 'I'm Missing Out on a Lot of Money' Due to USA's NIL Laws
Apr 5, 2024
DETROIT, UNITED STATES - 2024/03/31: Zach Edey of Purdue Boilermakers in action against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena. Final score; Purdue 72-66 Tennessee. (Photo by Nicholas Muller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Purdue center Zach Edey, who is Canadian and in school on an F-1 visa, isn't legally allowed to capitalize on any NIL deals made on American soil.
Edey spoke with reporters about those NIL laws on Friday and acknowledged that he's almost certainly losing out on a ton of potential earnings.
"I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of money," Edey said from Glendale, Arizona, where Purdue is set to face North Carolina State in the Final Four on Saturday.
Oren Weisfeld of Sportsnet explained the issues that prevent international student-athletes from fully benefitting from the NIL policy.
"That's because nearly all international student-athletes are on F-1 (student) visas, which do not allow them to engage in employment outside of 'on-campus' work or other specific programs geared toward career development such as an internship.
"They are unable to participate in 'active' engagements while on American soil, including most of the traditional influencer-based NIL activations such as posting on social media or filming a commercial.
"Foreign student-athletes are allowed to profit off 'passive' engagements, such as jersey sales or EA Sports video game licencing in America, but these tend to be a very small percentage of NIL profits for most athletes."
The 7'4", 300-pound Edey is the reigning two-time national player of the year and the most productive player in men's college hoops thanks to 25.0 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.
He's one of the most recognizable names in all of college basketball and is just two wins away from leading Purdue to the national championship.
Naturally, there should be a lot of NIL money on the table for Edey, but he can't fully benefit. He hopes that changes for others down the road, as he'll end up entering the NBA draft this season.
"I hope they change it in the future," he said. "I obviously have lost out on a lot of money this year. At the end of the day it needs to change, for sure. I understand kind of the legal process. It takes a while.
"It's not like it's an NCAA rule. It's an American law. Anytime you try to go change that, I understand it takes a while. But I do think it needs to change."
Edey is able to benefit from NIL in Canada, though, and that's something he's been able to do through the Boilermaker Alliance, a Purdue NIL collective. He's been able to partner with three Canadian charities as a result in Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Toronto Humane Society and the Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association.
Edey did mention that not having a host of NIL obligations has helped him stay more focused on basketball. In that regard, he's enjoyed a sensational season, guiding the Boilermakers to their first Final Four since 1980. A win over NC State on Saturday would mark the team's second-ever national title game appearance after the Boilermakers made it that far in 1969, losing to UCLA.
Purdue's Zach Edey Named 2024 AP Men's CBB Player of the Year; Also Won Award in 2023
Apr 5, 2024
DETROIT, UNITED STATES - 2024/03/31: Zach Edey of Purdue Boilermakers in action against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena. Final score; Purdue 72-66 Tennessee. (Photo by Nicholas Muller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Purdue center Zach Edey has successfully defended one of his national player of the year awards.
Edey was named the Associated Press Player of the Year on Friday for the second straight season, becoming the first award winner to repeat since UVA's Ralph Sampson claimed his third straight in 1983, according to the AP.
Edey received 57 of 62 possible votes for the award.
The other votes went to Tennessee's Dalton Knecht (three) and Houston's Jamal Shead (two).
The 7'4'' center averaged 25.0 points per game this season on his way to the Final Four with Purdue.
Edey is the fifth player to win consecutive player of the year awards, and the sixth to win the honor twice, according to the AP.
He is also the first player to both lead the NCAA in scoring and make it the Final Four since 1960, the AP reported.
"It's an honor to receive this, join that elite club of people," Edey told reporters after receiving the award. "This has been a heck of a season, for not just me but my team. I'm so proud of everything we've accomplished up to this point. Obviously, we still have more games left to play."
Zach Edey, presented with his second straight national player of the year, says this season has been tops on his list -- pic.twitter.com/kRIgz47Mz5
Edey referenced doubts following the Boilermakers after the team's historic loss to a No. 16 seed in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament.
"With the amount of stuff that we've gone through, the amount of stuff that we've heard, to be able to bounce back and the accomplishments we've had up to this point, this has been my favorite year I've ever lived in," Edey said.
The center has been instrumental in leading the Boilermakers on their deepest playoff run since 2019. He recorded a double-double in each of Purdue's four tournament wins, mostly recently recording 40 points and 16 rebounds on March 31 in an Elite Eight victory over Tennessee.
All eyes will be on Edey as Purdue takes on No. 11 NC State Saturday with the chance to earn a trip to the NCAA tournament title game for the first time since 1969.
Purdue Boilermakers Are Being Seriously Slept on as a National Championship Candidate
Kerry Miller
Apr 4, 2024
Purdue celebrates reaching its first Final Four since 1980.
While the Connecticut Huskies have been a wagon in their quest to repeat as the national champion of men's college basketball, the Purdue Boilermakers remain on quite the train track to a redemption story that would have been unfathomable if it hadn't already happened just a half-decade ago.
At this time last year, this team was still licking its wounds after falling flat on its face in a stunning first-round loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. But just like the Virginia Cavaliers from five years prior—who leveraged the motivation from a historic loss to UMBC to turn around and win the first natty in program history—here are the Boilermakers, still dancing into the Final Four, on the verge of officially turning UVA's miraculous coincidence into a trend.
Yet all anyone wants to talk about is Connecticut's back-to-back attempt and NC State's incredible journey to the point.
But for much of the first two months of this season, Purdue was the singular team to beat.
Remember that?
(Also, remember when we felt the same way about UConn for the first two months of last season?)
Zach Edey and Co. won that preposterously loaded Maui Invitational, going through three eventual Sweet 16 teams—Gonzaga, Tennessee and Marquette—to claim one of the most impressive MTE titles ever. Then, after getting clipped in overtime at Northwestern, the Boilermakers destroyed Iowa, beat Alabama in Canada and knocked off Arizona in Indianapolis in reclaiming their spot at No. 1 in the AP poll heading into the new year.
In the first half of January, though, UConn blew right past the Boilermakers in ascending to that throne of title favorite.
While AP Top 10 teams dropped games to unranked foes left and right—including Purdue getting smoked by 16 at Nebraska to lose its grip on the No. 1 spot in the polls—the Huskies became the lone bastion of hope; the one team that could be trusted, reeling off 14 consecutive wins during a two-month stretch without a loss.
Even when they did finally run into a red-hot Creighton-sized wood chipper in Omaha and got trounced by 19, they were already so far ahead of the pack that it hardly seemed to matter. They bounced back from that late-February misstep to enter the Dance on a seven-game winning streak—becoming the only major conference regular-season champion to also win its conference tournament—which made the NCAA tournament start to feel like a parlor game of UConn vs. The Field, with the vast majority of experts and analysts taking UConn.
But with just three games left to be played before crowning a champion, there is still an incredibly good Purdue team remaining in that dwindling field.
Were it not for UConn, Purdue would be leading the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Which makes sense, right?
Purdue's Zach Edey
Edey is the most unstoppable big man this sport has known in decades, and Purdue spent this offseason making damn sure its powerhouse in the paint was surrounded by more support than he had last year.
Not only did Edey get even more dominant than he already was, but a Boilermakers team that shot 32.2 percent from three-point range for the year—and 5-of-26 in that reprehensible, never to be forgotten first-round loss—blossomed into darn near the best perimeter offense in the country, carrying a 40.6 percent three-point success rate into the Final Four.
After shooting a combined 134-of-386 (34.7 percent) from downtown last year, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Mason Gillis each improved drastically to a combined 170-of-377 (45.1 percent) this year while adding veteran Lance Jones to the equation. Freshmen Camden Heide (46.2 percent) and Myles Colvin (42.9 percent) have also been great from distance, constantly giving Purdue at least three, often four lethal weapons from the perimeter, leaving opponents stuck between a two-point rock and a three-point hard place when trying to decide whether to double Edey in the post.
Frankly, it's hard to believe there is an offense out there more efficient than Purdue's, with UConn holding a slight edge (126.7 vs. 126.4) mainly because of its lower turnover rate. (Not that Purdue is particularly turnover-prone, but Connecticut averages fewer than 10 giveaways per game.)
Purdue's Lance Jones
Purdue is darn good on defense, too, as was the case last year.
Edey averages better than two blocks per game, but he impacts about a dozen others with his size at the rim. His ability to contest shots without committing fouls is second to none. And contrary to what the throngs of irrational Edey haters want to believe, it is, in fact, good, smart defense.
Adding Jones has been a big help on that end of the floor, too. The fact that he has turned into one of Purdue's primary three-point shooters is kind of a bonus, as Matt Painter mostly scooped him up for his defensive intensity and veteran leadership.
Between that great offense and darn good defense, Purdue has an average scoring margin of better than 14 points per game, this despite facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation and barely even bothering to feed Edey in the post in the few games where they knew they wouldn't much need him—AKA not running up the score as much as they easily could have.
Add it all up and Purdue is almost the second-most efficient team in the nation with an adjusted efficiency margin of 31.13, just a fraction of a unit behind Houston at 31.16. If the Boilermakers beat NC State on Saturday, there's a good chance they'll move ahead of the Cougars to set up yet another KenPom No. 1 vs. KenPom No. 2 national championship game...
Where the Boilermakers would be a considerable underdog against the Huskies.
Heading into the Final Four, Connecticut is -195 to win it all, compared to Purdue at +205. The implied odds there have the Huskies with a 66.1 percent chance and the Boilermakers at just 32.8 percent.
DraftKings has already posted a line for each of the four possible national championship games, too, where Connecticut would be a 5.5-point favorite with a -250 moneyline against Purdue.
That's a little absurd, isn't it?
Yes, Connecticut is very good and deserves a lot of respect, but doesn't the same go for Purdue?
It's outrageous to think that the Boilermakers—at 33-4, as Big Ten champs, after beating five Sweet 16 teams in nonconference play—would be as much of an underdog against Connecticut as Grand Canyon was in the second round against Alabama.
This isn't some repeat of the 1999 national championship, when Duke was by far the highest-rated team in KenPom history, going up against a UConn team that had never even been to a Final Four before. It made sense that the Huskies were a 9.5-point underdog in that game.
Of course, UConn won that game outright as a nearly double-digit dog, and maybe in a few days Purdue can return the favor.
Video: Purdue's Zach Edey Cuts Down Net Without a Ladder After Elite Eight Win
Mar 31, 2024
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 31: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers cuts down the net after defeating the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 31, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
You don't need a ladder to cut down the Elite Eight net when you're the tallest player in the NCAA tournament.
Purdue's 7'4" big man Zach Edey reached up to cut down the net while standing on the court after Sunday's 72-66 victory over Tennessee.
After cutting down the net, Edey turned to hand the first piece to former Purdue men's basketball head coach Gene Keady, per Matt Glenesk of the Indy Star.
Keady, who coached the program from 1980 to 2005, never made it to the Final Four with Purdue.
"You've always got to pay respect to those that came first," Edey said about handing the net to Keady, per On3's Grant Ramey. "He built this. It doesn't go over our heads. He helped set this all up. To be able to pay him back and give him a little piece of net, it's the least I can do."
Edey has been a key part of the Boilermakers' return to the Final Four. He recorded a career-high 40 points, adding 16 rebounds for his fourth consecutive NCAA tournament double-double.
The Purdue center is projected as a 2024 first-round pick by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman.
Before entering the draft, Edey will attempt to lead the Boilermakers to two more victories and the first NCAA tournament title in program history. That journey starts Saturday against No. 11 NC State.
Zach Edey, Purdue Beat Dalton Knecht, Tennessee to Reach Final Four, Excite CBB Fans
Mar 31, 2024
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 31: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers high fives Braden Smith #3 against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 31, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Zach Edey, at least for now, has his defining moment.
Purdue's star big man delivered in crunch time and led the Boilermakers to a 72-66 victory over second-seeded Tennessee in Sunday's Elite Eight battle in the 2024 NCAA men's tournament.
The Boilermakers, who are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1980 and continued their run toward a potential national title the year after a stunning first-round loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
As for the Volunteers, they fell just one win short of their first Final Four in program history despite Dalton Knecht posting 37 points and outscoring the rest of his team combined.
Yet he wasn't even the game's biggest star, as Edey tallied 40 points and 16 boards on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. Fittingly, he drew plenty of reaction on social media:
PURDUE TAKES DOWN TENNESSEE TO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL FOUR.
Zach Edey has been the definitive best player in college basketball for two full years.
To see him go for a career-high 40 points and 16 boards to get Purdue to the Final Four is too perfect. I couldn’t be happier for him, for Paint, for all the guys on that team that came back…
Purdue ended up winning, but Tennessee set the tone in the early going. The SEC representative extended its lead to double digits in the first half as Knecht drained three-pointers and Zakai Zeigler facilitated.
However, the Boilermakers broke out a 13-0 run by consistently pounding the ball down low to Edey. The Volunteers had no answer, and the Big Ten team took a 36-34 lead into intermission despite its early struggles from the outside.
The Knecht and Edey show continued into the second half with both stars going back and forth. The former was unstoppable from deep, while the latter overpowered his way through defenders on the block as they traded impressive plays.
Tennessee's only chance to stop the big man was by fouling him, and the whistles started to add up with Tobe Awaka fouling out and Purdue reaching the bonus early in the second half.
To the Volunteers' credit, they had plenty of answers thanks to Knecht's offense and strong perimeter defense that prevented the Boilermakers from pulling away and generating much outside of Edey.
It eventually turned into a show with Knecht dropping in shots from seemingly everywhere and Edey spinning his way through the lane. Perhaps the best solution would have been to clear the floor and let them play one-on-one, but they surely couldn't have stopped each other either.
All it would take is someone else to contribute in a critical moment to swing the game, and that is exactly what happened when Lance Jones drained a monster three in the last three minutes for Purdue to extend its advantage to six.
From there, Edey swatted Knecht in the last minute to clinch the win and put the exclamation point on an incredible performance.
UConn may be the tournament favorite still, but the unstoppable version of Edey that was on display Sunday could lead Purdue to a title. Next up is a Final Four showdown against the winner of the game between Duke and North Carolina State.
Purdue's Zach Edey, Braden Smith Lead Sweet 16 Win vs. Gonzaga, Dazzle CBB Fans
Mar 30, 2024
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 29: Braden Smith #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after a basket during the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 29, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Zach Edey's draft stock is continuing to rise.
Edey and sophomore guard Braden Smith each recorded double-doubles Friday night to lead No. 1 Purdue to a 80-68 Sweet 16 win over No. 5 Gonzaga.
The Boilermakers are now headed to their second Elite Eight appearance in five NCAA tournaments.
Zach Edey just had his 4th career NCAA Tournament game with 20+ points, 14+ rebounds. The last player to do that 4+ times was Bill Walton (5 from 1972-74)
Zach Edey gets a lot of hate but he’s an absolute difference maker every time he’s on the court. Too big, too strong. No one in this tournament can guard him.#MarchMadness
It's just unfathomable to play a team with someone playing as well as Smith is right now... oh and that team also just happens to have Zach Edey on it.
These Purdue guards know they are good enough. They have multiple guys who can make threes, and an elite point guard in Braden Smith. Truly of championship mettle.
Purdue will advance this weekend to take on either No. 2 Tennessee or No. 3 Creighton. A win Sunday would mark the Boilermakers' first trip to the Final Four since 1980.
The Bluejays and Volunteers are set to begin their battle for a spot in the Sweet 16 around 10 p.m. Friday night.
Video: Purdue's Matt Painter Defends Zach Edey Against 'Moronic' Critics After Win
Mar 24, 2024
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - FEBRUARY 10: Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) fist bumps coach Matt Painter after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers on February 10, 2024, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Purdue men's basketball head coach Matt Painter says it is "moronic" to claim center Zach Edey was able to lead the Boilermakers to the Sweet 16 solely due to his height.
Edey, who is 7-foot-4, led the Boilermakers with 23 points and 14 rebounds as No. 1 Purdue eliminated No. 8 Utah State Sunday in the second round of the 2024 NCAA tournament.
"They just shouldn't cover basketball," Painter said, when asked about critics who say Edey is "just tall" after the win.
"I just think everybody should take a test on their knowledge of what they're doing," Painter continued. "I think all coaches should take a test so they understand refereeing. I think all referees should take a test so they understand coaching. And I think all journalists should have to take a basketball quiz, or a test.
"Or anybody that Tweets, they should have to be able to do it. If they say something so moronic as that, then they should have to have a probationary status, where they can't Tweet for like three months. I think it will help society. Just try to knock out the fools, so they don't have to meet at the local Walmart and say things that don't make any sense."
Edey, the tallest player in the NCAA tournament, had already recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds by halftime of Sunday's win, marking his second straight first-half double-double.
The big man also led Purdue in scoring during the team's first-round victory over Grambling Friday, when he racked up 30 points and 21 rebounds to avoid a repeat of Purdue's first-round upset last season.
Debates over the cause of Edey's success likely don't matter to Purdue as much as the final score. Purdue is now set to face No. 5 Gonzaga Friday with a chance to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019.
