Zach Edey foul call controversy explained: Why Purdue big man rarely gets whistled for fouls yet draws so many

Stephen Noh

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Zach Edey foul call controversy explained: Why Purdue big man rarely gets whistled for fouls yet draws so many image

Zach Edey has been the most dominant player in the NCAA tournament. He's also been one of the most heavily criticized by opposing fans. Many have expressed frustration at how he constantly gets to the line, yet rarely gets called for fouls himself. 

That foul discrepancy has become a major talking point on social media. 

Edey drew 16 fouls against Tennessee in the Elite Eight. He's been whistled for only eight fouls through four games. To some, there is a conspiracy brewing. A more nuanced look reveals why such a large disparity exists. 

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Why Zach Edey doesn't pick up fouls

Edey doesn't chase blocks 

Edey's block numbers are pretty good — he's averaged 2.2 per game this season. Those are more the result of his massive 7-10.5 inch wingspan than anything else.

MORE: Zach Edey measurements: Height, wingspan, hand size, foot size for Purdue star

Edey is a very slow player. When he's not already in great position to get a block, he will oftentimes give up on a play and cede uncontested layups. 

Edey dodges most of those mid-air contests that other big men are constantly involved in. When watching all of his defensive plays from the first half against Tennessee, this tendency becomes very obvious. 

Edey's defensive style is thus a big reason for why he hasn't drawn many fouls. This isn't isolated to just the NCAA tournament either. His foul rate has always been low throughout his college career. And he averaged even fewer fouls (1.6 per game) as a junior than he did this season (1.9 per game). 

DECOURCY: Edey, Purdue end decades of disappointment with Final Four berth

Edey is extremely difficult to officiate

Given Edey's size, there is a ton of wrestling that goes on down low. This is particularly true when teams try to keep him away from the offensive glass, where he is the best in college hoops. 

There is subjective judgment in these types of calls. For example, Tennessee fans saw this play as an obvious foul on Edey. Purdue fans argued that Edey was the one who was grabbed first. 

The Zach Edey treatment: exhibit A pic.twitter.com/jrTwImtYRW

— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) March 31, 2024

Tennessee fans complained about similar jostling for position or moving screens that should have been called on Edey throughout Sunday's game. But players are oftentimes allowed to play through that type of contact. 

There are other calls that have been missed throughout the tournament. This one is legitimate. 

These calls get way more scrutiny because Edey is the player involved. There are hundreds of thousands of college fans auditing every call against him. Mistakes do happen, but not that often. 

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Why Zach Edey draws a lot of fouls

Edey's lack of foul calls are even more frustrating for opposing fans because of how often he is getting to the line. He became the first player since Pete Maravich with over 400 free throws in a season after his 22 on Sunday.

There are a couple of different reasons for that phenomenon, particularly in Sunday's game. The Volunteers were one of the most foul-prone teams in the nation, playing an aggressive style of defense all year. It makes sense that they would foul Edey a lot. 

When going through the film, there is nothing egregious that stands out. These are legitimate fouls. 

Edey is one of the biggest basketball players in the world. It is very hard to stop a 7-foot-4, 300-pound center without fouling. It makes sense then, upon closer inspection, why Edey has drawn so many fouls and been whistled for so few during Purdue's March Madness run. The trend will likely continue, as will the complaints surrounding it. 

Stephen Noh

Stephen Noh Photo

Stephen Noh started writing about the NBA as one of the first members of The Athletic in 2016. He covered the Chicago Bulls, both through big outlets and independent newsletters, for six years before joining The Sporting News in 2022. Stephen is also an avid poker player and wrote for PokerNews while covering the World Series of Poker from 2006-2008.