Bama guys saying the refs didn't call an even game. That Edey got away with a lot of fouls and didn't get called. Lots of whining.
We will be hearing a lot of that this year. Every fan thinks that their team should be allowed to maul him because it isn't fair to them to have to play by the rules.
The ESPN analysts on their website are unanimous in expecting Edey to repeat as NPOY. They all say it isn't even close, that he is the best college player, and that he is better than last year.
Is Zach Edey still the best player in the country right now?
Lunardi: Yes, and it's not especially close, although it was fun last week watching
Hunter Dickinson and
Tristen Newton do their thing.
Borzello: Yes, and the gap between Edey and everyone else in the Wooden Award race is wider than it was last season. He's more efficient than last season, better at rim protection than last season and he seems more comfortable when Purdue is trying to push the ball in transition than last season. He averaged 25.3 points and 13.0 rebounds in three days at the Maui Invitational, against a gauntlet of a schedule, and it felt like par for the course for Edey. That's special.
Medcalf: Yes. Dickinson is good -- one coach who faced him this season said he's just an impossible force to deal with in the paint. And, there are other preseason All-Americans who have started strong. But Edey is in his own category right now. He's averaging 23.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG and 2.9 BPG. I think we're looking at the second two-time Wooden Award winner.
Gasaway: Edey is the nation's best player, thanks in part to exertions not easily captured by clips or breakdowns of X's and O's. His offensive rebound percentage is better than those of 15 entire Division I teams. He draws a truly ridiculous 11 fouls per 40 minutes and thus destroys opponents with slightly above-average shooting at the line. Edey is tops by a mile.
Full article:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...ons-one-month-mens-college-basketball-2023-24