Zach Edey dominates in final trip to IU, Assembly Hall

Absolutely dominant. That is probably the best way to sum up the play of Purdue senior Zach Edey in his final trip to Indiana University’s Assembly Hall Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Edey finished the game with 33 points, was 11-of-12 from the free throw line and snagged 14 rebounds for his 50th career double double, as he lifted the second ranked Boilermakers to an 87-66 win over the Hoosiers.

It was my last chance to get a win in this building. I think our team took this matchup seriously, everyone wanted to win, everyone wanted to play hard.,” Edey told the media after the win.

 As the reigning Wooden Player-of-the-Year, Edey has shown that he is again worthy of the award, putting in the work during the offseason, lifting Purdue to marquee wins this season and posting back-to-back 30-point performances.

“I think I move a lot better, guard a lot better, I can do a lot of things. I understand the game better, the game slows down. I think there’s a lot of things I do better, but there’s a lot of things I can still get better at,” Edey said.

His coach, Matt Painter, has seen his big man put in the work.

“He’s a good player. He didn’t shoot a great percentage, but it’s a really good game for us. Zach’s the best, there’s no way around it. He rebounds the basketball, he draws a lot of attention,” Painter said.

What areas has Edey improved in, according to Painter?

All of them.

“His ability to guard the basketball, his ability to get out on the perimeter. He makes his free throws, he can shoot on the perimeter, I just don’t let him. I love just keeping going at them like a football mentality. He protects the rim better. He has improved defensively, he’s a willing passer. He doesn’t have the bullshit because he didn’t get recruited. That’s the best way I can say it. These guys get recruited and they come here and then they have to field a team and now you have to come play a role. If you can’t rebound, you can’t defend and you can’t play a role in the NBA, you can’t play in the NBA. You’ve got to be able to do those things and he does a lot of little things that help a team. I think he’s got a spot,” Painter said.

Edey answered a lot of questions about his growth and his future diving for a loose ball with Purdue up with around four minutes left.

“Who the hell’s diving up 18 at 7-4, 300? It kind of shows you who he is,” Painter said.