Zach Edey of Toronto, Ontario is in the National Collegiate Athletic Association March Madness Final Four in Glendale, Arizona. On Sunday in the Midwest Regional Final game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Edey’s Purdue University Boilermakers scored 40 points in a 72-66 win over the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
This was a battle of the top two seeds in the region as the Boilermakers were first and the Volunteers were second. In 39 minutes of action on Sunday, Edey made 13 of 21 field goals for a field goal percentage of .619, and 14 of 22 free throws for a college career high 40 points. Edey’s previous career high was 38 points in a 77-61 Purdue win over Michigan State on January 29, 2023. He also had the double-double, as he had 16 rebounds (11 defensive rebounds and five offensive rebounds), one assist, one steal, and one block.
Even though Edey had 40 points on Sunday, there are some glaring concerns with his overall game. Yes, he scored 40 points, but could have scored more. That is because he missed eight free throws. At 7’4″, 285 pounds, there is no doubt that Edey is great in the paint, but his outside shooting may need some work in order to convince scouts to take him early in the NBA Draft. That said, Shaquille O’Neal was not a very good outside shooter and was terrible from the charity stripe, and was taken first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992 out of Louisiana State University, and put together a Hall of Fame career.
The Boilermakers next play North Carolina State University in the semifinal on Saturday. The other semifinal has Connecticut versus Alabama.
