Zach Edey put up 37 factors within the nationwide title sport. Sadly, the remainder of his teammates solely scored 23 factors as UConn defeated Purdue, 75-60.
There is not any good technique towards Edey, who turned the primary back-to-back Naismith Participant of the 12 months winner in 40 years this season. However UConn determined that they weren’t going to double Edey, rotating totally different defenders on him, whilst Edey piled up factors and put the Huskies frontcourt in foul hassle.
Samson Johnson fouled out. Donovan Clingan sat for giant parts of the second half with 4 fouls. And whereas Edey shot 15-for-25, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two pictures, his teammates shot 9-for-29 and scored 23 factors. They made only one three-pointer and solely hit three pictures exterior of the important thing.
Braden Smith hit a triple with two minutes left within the first half and that was it for Purdue’s exterior taking pictures, as UConn locked the Boilermakers down on the perimeter.
Head coach Dan Hurley steadfastly refused to skew his protection towards stopping Edey. When Johnson fouled out and Clingan sat, Hurley had Alex Karaban defend Edey one-on-one, giving up eight inches in peak and 80 kilos in weight.
However even the 7-foor-2 Clingan had hassle with Edey.
Smith had 12 factors for Purdue, and nobody else had greater than 5. In contrast, the Huskies had 4 gamers in double figures and Hassan Diarra had 9 regardless of his foul hassle.
It was an unbelievable particular person efficiency from Edey. However a fair higher group efficiency by UConn.
