It is hard to not think about former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady when talking about the Boilermakers.
But, this year’s installment of Purdue basketball made sure the legendary coach was not forgotten about, and actually included him in the post game celebration after the Boilermakers knocked off Tennessee, 72-66, Sunday to punch their ticket to the Final Four.
Purdue big man Zach Edey presented Keady with a part of the net he cut down in the celebration, saying it was important to honor the past.
“You’ve always got to pay respect to those that came first. 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 told the media after the game.
Keady had profound impact on Purdue basketball coach
Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said he will lean on his time as a player under Keady this week as the Boilermakers prepare for the Final Four in Phoenix.
“He really tried to talk to us about not just having a great basketball career, but taking an opportunity like that and having a great life. That’s something I’ve always tried to pass on. Have fun with what you’re doing. If you can do that and you enjoy what you do, then you’re beating the system,” Painter said of Keady.
For Painter, the opportunity to have that moment with Keady is one he admits the legend deserved to have.
“It’s great. He obviously deserves to have this moment, right? He worked so hard. Seeing him go into the Hall of Fame is one of the coolest things that I’ve seen in competitive sports for us here at Purdue. He always comes at the end of the year and then travels with us and he’s around. Kind of what he recalls from his coaching career and all the things and all the experiences that you had. They won three Big Ten Championships after I graduated. So like it’s always something. You wanted to be a part of that. He’s always included me, and I’ve always included him,” Painter said.
Painter admitted, if it wasn’t for Keady, he wouldn’t be at Purdue.
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. So when you’re 18 years old and you get recruited by somebody, you don’t think 15 years later you’re going to be the head coach and take his place, right? So to me, it was really surreal when I coached one year in college and they were interested in me, but I know he had a big part of it. I know he had a huge part of it, and I’m very grateful for that and very grateful for all he’s done for me and our players,” Painter said.
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