For those considering Purdue’s best-ever players, note that Zach Edey’s career averages (and totals) to date trail Joe Barry Carroll’s after playing in the exact same number of games -- 123 -- including Carroll’s senior run to third place in the NCAA Final Four.
Purdue Career Scoring Average
Rank Player GP Pts. Avg. Years
1. Rick Mount 72 2,323 32.3 1968-70
2. Dave Schellhase 72 2,074 28.8 1964-66
3. Terry Dischinger 70 1,979 28.3 1960-62
4. Glenn Robinson 62 1,706 27.5 1993-94
5. John Garrett 82 1,620 19.8 1973-75
6. Carl Landry 64 1,175 18.4 2005-07
7. Carsen Edwards 108 1,920 17.8 2017-19
8. Joe Barry Carroll 123 2,175 17.7 1977-80
9. Mel Garland 71 1,243 17.5 1962-64
10. Bob Ford 73 1,244 17.0 1970-72
11. Zach Edey 123 2,091 17.0 2020-24
Purdue Career Rebounding Average
Rank Player GP Reb. Avg. Years
1. Terry Dischinger 70 958 13.7 1960-62
2. Caleb Swanigan 69 718 10.4 2016-17
3. Don Beck 57 586 10.3 1953-55
4. Dave Schellhase 72 721 10.0 1964-66
5. William Franklin 64 630 9.8 1970-72
6. Glenn Robinson 62 602 9.7 1993-94
7. Joe Barry Carroll 123 1,148 9.3 1977-80
8. Zach Edey 123 1,128 9.2 2020-24
9. Herman Gilliam 70 636 9.1 1967-69
10. John Garrett 82 738 9.0 1973-75
11. Bob Ford 73 648 8.9 1970-72
So, don’t forget the four Boilermakers who still stand in the Big Ten’s all-time top five for career scoring average. Or those who led Purdue to its best finishes in the NCAA. Or both Boilermakers whose play led them to be the NBA’s overall No. 1 draft pick.
And never forget the Boilermaker whose name is always on the national player of the year award.
Thus, Purdue’s all-time best, based on career performance, team results, accolades and pro value …
1. John Wooden -- Three-time consensus All-American player led Purdue to two Big Ten championships and its only men’s national championship, the only recognized national title of the time. Later recruited and coached 10 NCAA championship teams in 12 years, finishing unbeaten four times. The national Player of the Year trophy is named for him.
2. Rick Mount -- Three-time All-American averaged 32.3 points per game for his 73 games, still the No. 1 career scoring average in Big Ten history, and led Purdue to its first Big Ten championship in 29 years and its only advancement to the NCAA Tournament championship game, losing to Wooden’s UCLA Bruins. Also was a three-time All-Big Ten first team pick, all as a marked man, after being the first high school player ever featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
3. Glenn Robinson -- All-American averaged 27.5 points and 9.7 rebounds in his 62 games, still No. 5 in career scoring average in Big Ten history, led Purdue to the Big Ten championship and into the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight and was selected as the consensus national player of the year and the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Averaged 20.7 points in 11 years in the NBA.
4. Joe Barry Carroll -- All-American averaged 17.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in his 123 games, led Purdue to the Big Ten championship and third place in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four and was the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Averaged 17.7 points in 10 years in the NBA.
5. Terry Dischinger -- Three-time All-American averaged 28.3 points and 13.7 rebounds in his 70 games, still the No. 3 career scoring average in Big Ten history and the No. 6 career rebounding average in Big Ten history. Also was a three-time All-Big Ten first team selection and was the overall No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft. Averaged 13.8 points in nine years in the NBA.
6. Dave Schellhase -- Two-time All-American averaged 28.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in his 72 games, still the No. 2 career scoring average in Big Ten history. Also was a three-time All-Big Ten first team pick and was the overall No. 10 pick in the NBA Draft, playing parts of two seasons.
7. Zach Edey -- All-American averaging 17.0 points and 9.2 rebounds for his first 123 games, ranking No. 10 in Purdue career scoring average, No. 57 in Big Ten history, and No. 9 in Purdue career rebounding average, also led Purdue to a Big Ten championship with another in the works and was the consensus national player of the year, with another Wooden trophy in line.
Honorable Mention -- Stretch Murphy, Paul Hoffman, Herm Gilliam, Jaden Ivey, Billy Keller, Carsen Edwards, Carl Landry, Brad Miller, Brian Cardinal, E’Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson, Stephen Scheffler, Russell Cross, Walter Jordan, Caleb Swanigan, John Garrett, Frank Kendrick, Jerry Sichting, Jimmy Oliver, Jim Rowinski, Mel Garland, William Franklin, Elmer Oliphant, Dave Charters, Jewell Young, Willie Merriweather, Carl McNulty, Larry Teeple, George Spradling, Norm Cotton, Bob Kessler, Bob Ford, Joe Sexson, Lamar Lundy, Cuonzo Martin, Robbie Hummel, Keith Edmunson, Bruce Parkinson, Eugene Parker, Everette Stephens, Troy Lewis, Todd Mitchell, Trevion Williams, Chad Austin, Don White, Ray Miller, Emmett Lowery, Fred Beretta, Willie Deane, A.J. Hammons, Isaac Haas, Don Beck, Melvin McCants, Vince Edwards, Mike Robinson, Jaraan Cornell, Woody Austin, David Teague, Downtown Kenny Lowe … and Tacos.
Purdue Career Scoring Average
Rank Player GP Pts. Avg. Years
1. Rick Mount 72 2,323 32.3 1968-70
2. Dave Schellhase 72 2,074 28.8 1964-66
3. Terry Dischinger 70 1,979 28.3 1960-62
4. Glenn Robinson 62 1,706 27.5 1993-94
5. John Garrett 82 1,620 19.8 1973-75
6. Carl Landry 64 1,175 18.4 2005-07
7. Carsen Edwards 108 1,920 17.8 2017-19
8. Joe Barry Carroll 123 2,175 17.7 1977-80
9. Mel Garland 71 1,243 17.5 1962-64
10. Bob Ford 73 1,244 17.0 1970-72
11. Zach Edey 123 2,091 17.0 2020-24
Purdue Career Rebounding Average
Rank Player GP Reb. Avg. Years
1. Terry Dischinger 70 958 13.7 1960-62
2. Caleb Swanigan 69 718 10.4 2016-17
3. Don Beck 57 586 10.3 1953-55
4. Dave Schellhase 72 721 10.0 1964-66
5. William Franklin 64 630 9.8 1970-72
6. Glenn Robinson 62 602 9.7 1993-94
7. Joe Barry Carroll 123 1,148 9.3 1977-80
8. Zach Edey 123 1,128 9.2 2020-24
9. Herman Gilliam 70 636 9.1 1967-69
10. John Garrett 82 738 9.0 1973-75
11. Bob Ford 73 648 8.9 1970-72
So, don’t forget the four Boilermakers who still stand in the Big Ten’s all-time top five for career scoring average. Or those who led Purdue to its best finishes in the NCAA. Or both Boilermakers whose play led them to be the NBA’s overall No. 1 draft pick.
And never forget the Boilermaker whose name is always on the national player of the year award.
Thus, Purdue’s all-time best, based on career performance, team results, accolades and pro value …
1. John Wooden -- Three-time consensus All-American player led Purdue to two Big Ten championships and its only men’s national championship, the only recognized national title of the time. Later recruited and coached 10 NCAA championship teams in 12 years, finishing unbeaten four times. The national Player of the Year trophy is named for him.
2. Rick Mount -- Three-time All-American averaged 32.3 points per game for his 73 games, still the No. 1 career scoring average in Big Ten history, and led Purdue to its first Big Ten championship in 29 years and its only advancement to the NCAA Tournament championship game, losing to Wooden’s UCLA Bruins. Also was a three-time All-Big Ten first team pick, all as a marked man, after being the first high school player ever featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
3. Glenn Robinson -- All-American averaged 27.5 points and 9.7 rebounds in his 62 games, still No. 5 in career scoring average in Big Ten history, led Purdue to the Big Ten championship and into the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight and was selected as the consensus national player of the year and the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Averaged 20.7 points in 11 years in the NBA.
4. Joe Barry Carroll -- All-American averaged 17.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in his 123 games, led Purdue to the Big Ten championship and third place in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four and was the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Averaged 17.7 points in 10 years in the NBA.
5. Terry Dischinger -- Three-time All-American averaged 28.3 points and 13.7 rebounds in his 70 games, still the No. 3 career scoring average in Big Ten history and the No. 6 career rebounding average in Big Ten history. Also was a three-time All-Big Ten first team selection and was the overall No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft. Averaged 13.8 points in nine years in the NBA.
6. Dave Schellhase -- Two-time All-American averaged 28.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in his 72 games, still the No. 2 career scoring average in Big Ten history. Also was a three-time All-Big Ten first team pick and was the overall No. 10 pick in the NBA Draft, playing parts of two seasons.
7. Zach Edey -- All-American averaging 17.0 points and 9.2 rebounds for his first 123 games, ranking No. 10 in Purdue career scoring average, No. 57 in Big Ten history, and No. 9 in Purdue career rebounding average, also led Purdue to a Big Ten championship with another in the works and was the consensus national player of the year, with another Wooden trophy in line.
Honorable Mention -- Stretch Murphy, Paul Hoffman, Herm Gilliam, Jaden Ivey, Billy Keller, Carsen Edwards, Carl Landry, Brad Miller, Brian Cardinal, E’Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson, Stephen Scheffler, Russell Cross, Walter Jordan, Caleb Swanigan, John Garrett, Frank Kendrick, Jerry Sichting, Jimmy Oliver, Jim Rowinski, Mel Garland, William Franklin, Elmer Oliphant, Dave Charters, Jewell Young, Willie Merriweather, Carl McNulty, Larry Teeple, George Spradling, Norm Cotton, Bob Kessler, Bob Ford, Joe Sexson, Lamar Lundy, Cuonzo Martin, Robbie Hummel, Keith Edmunson, Bruce Parkinson, Eugene Parker, Everette Stephens, Troy Lewis, Todd Mitchell, Trevion Williams, Chad Austin, Don White, Ray Miller, Emmett Lowery, Fred Beretta, Willie Deane, A.J. Hammons, Isaac Haas, Don Beck, Melvin McCants, Vince Edwards, Mike Robinson, Jaraan Cornell, Woody Austin, David Teague, Downtown Kenny Lowe … and Tacos.