For Purdue basketball, the greatest of all-time reads like a Who’s Who.
There’s Joe Barry Carroll, Rick Mount, Glenn Robinson, Brian Cardinal, John Wooden, Robbie Hummell and many others. And, there is big man Zach Edey, who has cemented himself in the folklore of Purdue basketball.
Edey has won all seven major National Player-of-the-Year awards that have been handed out dating back to last year. This season, he has paced Purdue basketball, averaging 24.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists per game.
He is the only player in Big Ten history to record at least 700 points and 350 rebounds in a season, doing so both this year and last year, and needs 26 rebounds to become the fifth player in NCAA history with two seasons of at least 750 points and 400 rebounds. In addition, Edey needs 42 points to surpass Rick Mount as Purdue basketball’s all-time scoring leader. Should he achieve that, he will become Purdue’s all-time leader in points, rebounds and double-doubles.
On Senior Day against Wisconsin, Edey finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, and became the first Big Ten player with 2,200 points and 1,200 rebounds.
Edey paves way for Purdue basketball
Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said Edey’s legacy is one that will live on forever at
Purdue.
“He’s our all-time leading rebounder and he will be our all-time leading scorer. Won two championships, been to a Sweet Sixteen. He’s great. I am proud of him he’s a much better passer and much better defensive player,” Painter said.
Painter took a chance on Edey, who played at IMG Academy, when many other programs were overlooking the talent.
“He’s great. I am proud of him. He’s a much better passer and much better defensive player. I did think he would be good. I just didn’t know when. He had good hands, good feet, but he needed reps,” Painter said.
The Purdue basketball veteran coach said the one thing about Edey is he is always open on the offensive side and it is imperative his teammates get him the basketball.
“When he’s open, throw him the ball, but he’s always open. He’s like one of those standup freezers, always open. A lot of big guys get recruited and go places and they never throw them the ball. You want them to rebound and defend, but throw the basketball to them. Let them participate, but you have to do drill work. The adjustment took some time, but not a lot of time. He’s a two way player. I’ve never been around someone people have to gameplan for so much. He kept getting better. You like guys that play hard and are unselfish and about winning and those are his attributes. To have that elite size to go along with his skill level, you have the best player in the country,” Painter said.
Purdue basketball coach, teammate notice change in Edey’s game
Ask Painter what stands out about Edey through the years and he will smile and tell you it is how far Edey’s game has come from day one.
“When you see those clips and their first basket at Purdue, Zach Edey looks like a different person. The thing that jumps out to me about him is his competitive spirit. You get some big guys and they just get some bad calls. He plays hard, wants to win. The other thing is he didn’t get recruited very hard. He was a terrible passer when he got here and now he’s a great passer. When you have the ability to score and pass, you’ve raised the value to your team. He shows up. He’s had bad games, turned it over and some stinkers but it’s not from not competing. His legacy is through his development, his overall success and the success of our program. Most wins in Big Ten in last ten years,” Painter said.
Senior forward Mason Gillis echoed those sentiments about the Purdue basketball big man.
“You can tell he loves the game, you can tell he respects the game. The people around know what he does. He looks out for everybody. He’s a good guy in the gym. I don’t think we could ask for a better national player of the year,” Gillis said.
Edey and the Boilermakers (28-3) open the Big Ten Tournament today at noon against Michigan State (19-13) in Minneapolis.
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