SUMMARY
- Zach Edey scored 37 points and 10 rebounds but UConn upset Purdue in a 15-point blowout.
- Edey will not return to Purdue but plans on competing in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Zach Edey did everything to lead the Purdue Boilermakers through the NCAA Men’s Basketball Finals. The game began quite slow but UConn eventually added more pressure on Purdue. However, Zach managed to cut through the defenses to score while the rest of his team struggled to bring in the numbers. Purdue also led by as much as 18 points in the second half. And by the end of the game, UConn retained their championship.
Tough look for the dude behind Zach Edey @MarkTitusShow
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 9, 2024
In basketball, equal efforts from every player go the distance and that is what UConn delivered on the court during their 75-60 victory. Tristan Newton led the Huskies pack with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists while three other starters scored in double-digits. Zach Edey led Purdue with 37 points and 10 rebounds. He had more points than half of Purdue’s total score in the game.
Zach Edey will not return to Purdue to use his COVID-19 eligibility
After the entire came to a standstill in 2020, the NCAA Tournament was canceled. However, the league ended up giving players an extra year of eligibility. This allows players to play another year after graduating, either for their team or another in a different institution. Zach Edey was one of many players who were given COVID-19 eligibility. While most players opt-in to stay for another year, Edey doesn’t want to.
Zach Edey might DOMINATE the league 👀
Do you see him as a 1st round pick?#BoilerUp | #NBA pic.twitter.com/zd8pBxm6FE
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) April 4, 2024
The 21-year-old college superstar made his decision to compete in the 2024 NBA Draft in February. According to various sources, Edey is expected to be a late first-round pick. Edey is a concoction of all the good skills in the post. His ability to score and defend around the rim is remarkable but he does not have much of a perimeter presence.
Legendary 3x Player of the Year praises Zach Edey
Zach Edey has been named the Naismith College Player of the Year twice (2023, 2024). Not too many athletes get to boast a resume like his except for individuals like Ralph Sampson and Bill Walton. Ralph, who was a No.1 overall pick in the 1983 draft gave Edey props for keeping the spirit of centers alive in basketball.
He said, “It’s special to see, for me, a big man in this era of basketball, have a low post-game and be dominant in a game that is mostly three-pointers and mostly a different part of the game. So now I think that’s coming back a little bit. You see his work ethic, you see him get in better shape. So the sky’s the limit for him and he gotta keep working. But I am proud of a big guy winning the Player of the Year.”
Edey, Walton, and Sampson are the only individuals to win the award consecutively. Sampson was the last to do so in 1983. However, back then centers were most likely to become the top pick in the draft. Walton and Sampson were No.1 overall picks, while Edey is projected to be a late first-round pick. This has a lot to do with versatility as the three-point shot is greatly appreciated in today’s game.