Purdue entered the 2024 NCAA Tournament hoping to avoid the disappointment it endured as a No. 1 seed in 2023 when it lost to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round.
Zach Edey made sure that didn't happen again. The 7-4 Canadian powered Purdue to two big-time wins to secure the Boilermakers a spot in the Sweet 16 with relative ease.
Edey was dominant in both of Purdue's opening-weekend wins, but he was particularly great against Utah State. He notched a first-half double-double against the Aggies and provided a major mismatch weapon for the Boilermakers.
Edey forced Utah State's top two centers into foul trouble while negating the impact of Aggies star Great Osobor, a 6-8 forward. That allowed his size to be a major factor against an otherwise small Aggies lineup.
By the game's end, Edey had one of his best stat lines of the year. Here's a look at how he's fared statistically in the first two games of the 2024 NCAA Tournament as he looks to bring a national title home to West Lafayette.
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Zach Edey stats vs. Utah State
Purdue was dominant in its 106-67 win over Utah State, setting a school record for points in an NCAA Tournament game. Edey played a big part in that scoring success, especially in the first half.
Edey posted a double-double before halftime and was active as a passer and a shot-blocker. He exceeded his season averages in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks and came up just shy of his average of 24.6 points per game.
Edey with the hook on one end and the Aggies immediately respond on the other 💪#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/EttD3T1ubF
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2024
Below is a look at Edey's stats against Utah State:
| Stat | Total |
| Points | 23 |
| Rebounds | 14 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Steals | 2 |
| Blocks | 3 |
| Field goals | 8-11 (72.7%) |
| Free throws | 7-8 (87.5%) |
The impressive part of Edey's success? He did all that despite sitting the final 12 minutes of the game. The Boilermakers didn't need him to re-enter the contest after they built a lead that peaked at 41 points.
MORE: Where Zach Edey ranks among tallest players in the 2024 NCAA Tournament
Zach Edey stats vs. Grambling
As good as Edey was against Utah State, he may have been better against Grambling. The 7-4 center dominated the Tigers, scoring 30 points and adding a whopping 21 rebounds in the Boilermakers' 78-50 win.
Below are Edey's full stats from that contest:
| Stat | Total |
| Points | 30 |
| Rebounds | 21 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Steals | 0 |
| Blocks | 3 |
| Field goals | 11-17 (64.7%) |
| Free throws | 8-14 (57.1%) |
Edey's 30-20 game was just the second in NCAA Tournament history. The first occurred in 1995 when Joe Smith of Maryland logged 31 points, 21 rebounds, and seven blocks against Texas.
Smith was the No. 1 pick in the 1995 NBA Draft just a few months after his massive performance. Edey might not match Smith in that regard, but there's little doubt that his strong senior season has allowed his draft stock to rise.
NBA DRAFT: Why Zach Edey is now viewed as a potential first-round pick
Zach Edey stats 2023-24
Edey was among college basketball's most productive players during the 2023-24 season. He averaged an NCAA-best 24.6 points per game and ranked third in the country in rebounds per game with 12.
Only one other Div. I player matched Edey in averaging a 20-point double-double. That was Western Carolina's Vonterius Woolbright, a 6-6 senior guard who averaged 21.1 points and 12 boards per game.
Below is a full look at Edey's stats per game for the 2023-24 season:
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 24.6 |
| Rebounds | 12.0 |
| Assists | 2.1 |
| Steals | 0.2 |
| Blocks | 2.2 |
| Field goal % | 62 |
| 3-point % | 50 |
Edey played four seasons at Purdue and showcased major improvement each season. His size and ever-improving skillset are why he's now considered a legitimate NBA Draft prospect.
His performance through two games in this year's NCAA Tournament should only increase the buzz surrounding his potential at the next level.
