Can Zach Edey’s Purdue Still Win March Madness Despite Massive Upset?

Purdue has performed incredibly well every season, only to end up in the Final Four. Except the one time in 1969 when they were runners-up. Just like the previous season, Purdue started this year’s campaign among the top contenders. Their fearless and versatile brand of basketball has made them the cream of the crop in the Big 10 regular season.

However, their national championships have dealt major blows every time. Wisconsin repeated the history when they knocked Purdue out in the semifinals of the post-season tournament. Nonetheless, Zach Edey and co. have shown that they have the potential to make a deep run in the business end of this tournament.

But will they be able to fulfill their dream of making the old gold and black jersey the National champions for the very first time?

While they are out of the automatic bid run for the March Madness, Purdue has been in the top charts all the time. Their elite ranking and 29-4 win-loss ratio will only help them secure a good seed in the game of 68 bracket. However, there is no denying that their unsavory loss to the Badgers can still be a crack in the glass wall. Nevertheless, with a winning percentage of 90.6 which brings them to the 5th rank in the nation, Zach Edey and the team have a great chance of reigning. But would their stats support the theory?

Purdue’s season stats vs the NCAA championship

When comparing Purdue’s season stats with the reigning champions, the UConn Huskies, the numbers come out to be quite comparative. Currently, the Boilermakers are averaging 83.4 points per game, shooting 48.8 from the field goal and 72.1 from the free-throw line. They also add 40.4 rebounds, 5.7 steals, and 40.8 beyond-the-arc shots to the offensive tally. While their defensive front has 18.4 assists and 3.8 blocks.

While it may look like their 11.5 turnovers add a glitch to their decent register, it concludes their assist-to-turnover ratio to a 1.62. Comparatively, UConn has 1.87 AST/TO. Hence, they have satisfactory ball control. While not a popular name in the lists of defensive teams, they do have some aspects that try to outshine their competitors. Nevertheless, their players like Zach Edey, Braden Smith, and Lance Jones, their offensive front has a better chance of a stand-off.

Read More- March Madness: How Does Selection Sunday Work and Who Could Face the Snub in 2024?

But Purdue’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder like Edey may have to wear his best suit to get the team to the Finals of the Big Dance.

Purdue’s History in the NCAA Championship with Zach Edey

This may or may not be Zach Edey’s last season with the Boilermakers. However, the senior has added hugely to the team since his entry in 2020. In fact, they reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2022 with the 7 ft 4 in tower on their roster. They have also made appearances in every year from 2021 to date. Hence, can we say that they will enter the March Madness again? Surely.

This time around, the team has won their regular season, reached the semifinals in the Big 10 tournament, and has all the abilities required to reach the higher levels in this NCAA tournament. Especially with Zach Edey who has been displaying some leaps in his game. Currently, the NPOY grabs 24.4 ppg with a field goal accuracy of 61.9% and shoots 50 from beyond the arc.

Edey also collects 11.7 rebounds through each game that makes him a good offensive player. Further, his height and wingspan allow him to guard the opponents better, improving his defensive prowess. His dominant presence on the court along with his will to pass the ball as the chance appears, make him a great teammate to play with, something you would want to win a trophy.

Read More- March Madness 2024: Detailed Look into List of Venues and Cities Hosting the NCAA Tournament

But what does Edey say about the team’s mindset for the upcoming March Madness?

Is the semifinal loss a blessing in disguise?

If we look at it from this perspective, Purdue’s upset defeat to Wisconsin may have more to it than meets the eye. While the Big 10 Finals will continue till the Selection Sunday, the Boilermakers can rest and prepare for their future games. Their seat in the tournament is fixed, without any doubt. It all comes down to whether they will continue winning in this single knock-out competition.

Zach Edey told the interviewers in a post-match discussion what the team thinks about their defeats. He said, “Yeah, I think that’s been a big area of growth for us compared from last year to this year. I think last year it kind of rattled us, shook our confidence. I think this year we all know who we are, we know what type of team we are and we know what we can do.”

The ever-so-grounded center on the Purdue roster seems to be determined to grab the championship trophy this time. While they do have rocky roads to walk and steep mountains to climb, the sheer on-court talent of the Boilermakers mixed with their wish to become the champions of March Madness will surely come in handy to reach the grand finale.

Do you believe the Purdue Boilermakers can reign the NCAA Division I men’s basketball?

Read More- Can Duke Qualify for March Madness? Another Disappointment vs NC State Puts Hopes in Peril