You can't have the men's NCAA Tournament without the potential back-to-back national player of the year.
Zach Edey is back and leading Purdue into March Madness again, and is a major reason the Boilermakers are a No. 1 seed for the second straight season. This time, Purdue is hoping for a better outcome than last year – when it was eliminated by a No. 16 seed – and looking to make the Final Four for the first time since 1980. If Purdue does that, Edey will likely be a big reason for the trip to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Here is everything to know about Purdue center Zach Edey:
Edey is a senior center from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He grew up playing hockey and baseball but started playing basketball during his sophomore year of high school. For his senior year, he went to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
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Edey is 7 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. His shoe size is 20.
Since joining Purdue in 2020, the Boilermakers have been one of the most successful teams in Division I with a 105-28 record in Edey's four seasons. It's the third-best winning percentage (79%) in that timespan, behind Houston and Gonzaga.
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Purdue has made it to the NCAA Tournament each season Edey has been on the team, with the best finish being a Sweet 16 appearance in 2022. Purdue has won two Big Ten regular-season titles and one Big Ten tournament championship.
Edey has racked up several honors in his time in West Lafayette. He started by being named to the Big Ten all-freshman team, and in his second season, was named second-team all-Big Ten.
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The accolades picked up last season when Edey was named the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten all-defense team, Big Ten tournament Most Valuable Player, a consensus All-American and was the national player of the year. This season, Edey was once again named the Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten all-defense team and is the leading candidate for national player of the year. With all of his accomplishments, Purdue retired Edey's jersey on his senior night.
This will be Edey's last season playing for Purdue. Head coach Matt Painter told CBS Sports in February that Edey will not use his extra COVID-19 year and will declare for the NBA draft.
With another outstanding season, Edey ranks high in Division I in several statistical categories. His stats for this season:
Edey and the Boilermakers are, again, the No. 1 seed in their region. Their first opponent in the Midwest will be determined from a First Four game between Grambling State and Montana State. Purdue will play the winner on Friday, March 22 at 7:25 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.