Purdue is the decisive favorite entering Saturday's Final Four matchup with NC State, but that isn't stopping Wolfpack star DJ Burns Jr. from entering the biggest weekend of his life with extreme confidence.
Burns didn't have anything negative to say about Boilermakers star Zach Edey before they inevitably meet in the paint at State Farm Stadium, but he made it clear he's not lacking confidence entering Saturday's battle.
"He's a tall guy and that's a good advantage, but we're not treating him any differently," Burns told reporters.
Burns has largely been able to use his size and strength to impose his will on defenders in the NCAA Tournament, but he's about seven inches shorter than Edey. That's something NC State will have to account for, but it might not be something Burns and the Wolfpack can necessarily prepare for.
MORE: DJ Burns Jr. says he has 'zero' interest in NFL career
Still, Burns believes he can give Edey a challenge he hasn't seen yet. "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," Burns continued.
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
Edey was nothing but complimentary toward Burns, standing up for his fellow big man in an era often dominated by guards at higher levels of basketball.
"People kind of treat him like he's a sideshow or something. He's a really good basketball player," Edey told reporters, adding that Burns has "earned" respect.
Purdue's Zach Edey offers praise for NC State star DJ Burns.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 4, 2024
"I think it's kind of unfair the way people treat him." pic.twitter.com/rlaf9cfGzz
Refusing to give Burns any more motivation might have been the right call for Edey, as the NC State star has scored at least 20 points in three of his past five games and gave Duke big man Kyle Filipowski all kinds of trouble in the Elite Eight.
Filipowski wound up in foul trouble in the second half of Duke's loss to the Wolfpack, a reminder that fouls could be just as significant of a factor as anything else in the Edey-Burns matchup. NC State can't afford to let Burns rack up fouls, but that's easier said than done against a player as physically imposing as Edey.
If Burns can find a way to get the best of Edey, though, his legend will only grow.
