Zach Edey is one of the greatest centers in college basketball history. There is no way to deny the greatness of Purdue’s Canadian seven-footer.
However, he is a foul merchant.
No player in the country benefits from the whistle as much as Edey. By nature of his size, the officials don’t know how to call him. Opposing defenses swarm him. He plays extremely hard.
And the call typically goes Edey’s way when his big body is flailing around. If it doesn’t, Boilermakers fans get upset.
On the flip side of that equation, because he is so large and physical, the reigning Player of the Year often gets away with things that he shouldn’t. There have been multiple examples over the last few weeks where the refs have swallowed their whistles.
The Elite Eight was another. Edey played all but one minute during first half of a very physical game against Tennessee. He had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Not once was he called for a foul in 19 minutes. Every single other starter on both teams was called for a foul. Not Edey.
HOW?! Great question. Tennessee (and non-Purdue fans) fans were furious.
Purdue frequently shoots as many as 20 more free throws than its opponents. Edey is a big the reason why.
He joined an exclusive club on Saturday and became the first player to shoot at least 400 free throws in a single season in more than 50 years. The “foul merchant” label is indeed warranted.
Again, this is not to discredit what Zach Edey has done throughout the last four years. His individual career is one of the greatest of all-time and the stats (not necessarily the wins) back that up.
That does not mean that he is not the direct beneficiary of questionable officiating.
Both of those things can be and are true!