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 isn’t any good technique towards Edey, who grew to become 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 large parts of the second half with 4 fouls. And whereas Edey shot 15-for-25, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two photographs, his teammates shot 9-for-29 and scored 23 factors. They made only one three-pointer and solely hit three photographs outdoors of the important thing.
Braden Smith hit a triple with two minutes left within the first half and that was it for Purdue’s outdoors capturing, 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 staff efficiency by UConn.
