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Purdue center Zach Edey is a massive human being. Standing 7-foot-4 and tipping the scales at 300 pounds, he towers over most others in college basketball (and everywhere else!).
That size will create problems for DJ Burns, his soon-to-be foe, as the Boilermakers prep for a Final Four meeting with NC State. The big man previewed that matchup on Thursday.
He had nothing but praise for Burns, who’s been a dominant force in his own right this March.
Across four Wolfpack wins, the forward is averaging 18.4 points a game, becoming the squad’s top scoring threat at the most important time of the year.
While not standing nearly as tall as Edey at just 6-foot-9, his quickness down low has given opponents fits.
Just ask Duke!
Burns bullied Blue Devils star Kyle Filipowski to the tune 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting in his most recent outing. Having seen that production over the course of March Madness, Zach Edey gave Burns his flowers ahead of the opening tip.
“I think it’s kind of unfair the way people treat him,” he said. “People kind of treat him like he’s a sideshow. He’s a really good basketball player. Don’t get that mistaken. We’re going to give him that respect… because he’s earned it.”
Zach Edey believes that DJ Burns is getting disrespected in how people talk about him. His answer: pic.twitter.com/wCDyrZLIKE
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 4, 2024
DJ Burns believes he can give Edey trouble in the paint, saying that the center “hasn’t had anybody put scoring pressure on him” as much as he plans to.
Burns appears ready for battle.
DJ Burns was asked if he could give Zach Edey problems: “He hasn’t had anybody put scoring pressure on him as much as I will, well maybe he did, but not under a stage like this.” pic.twitter.com/C8bfuPcgMU
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 4, 2024
While Burns’ assessment might be true, he’s yet to face a giant of Edey’s stature to this point. It is going to be a problem, as it has been for each of Purdue’s first four foes.
And as it has been for all of Edey’s life!
Zach Edey hilariously details how his height has had its downside.
While it’s an absolute positive in his role as a starting college basketball player, that size hasn’t always proved beneficial off the court. He spoke on his experience of being a six-foot fourth grader, saying typical childhood activities often put him in awkward situations.
“I kind of got banned from trick-or-treating when I was in, like, fourth grade, because people would get mad at me because I was too big. I would get the little stink-eyes. I was like six-foot going door-to-door. People would be like, ‘What are you doing? You’re too old for this.'”
Zach Edey tells us that he was banned from trick-or-treating when he was in fourth grade. “I was 6-foot going door to door.” 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/95YSNMPF1p
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 4, 2024
He’s no longer in the fourth grade, and he’s grown another foot-and-a-half since. Now, he’ll use that massive stature to his advantage.
Size was a problem for Zach Edey then. Now, it will be NC State’s issue to deal with.