Purdue retires Zach Edey's jersey after he leads No. 3 Boilermakers past Wisconsin in home finale
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) Zach Edey had a banner day.
The 7-foot-4 Purdue senior withstood a physical onslaught from Wisconsin in his home finale, persevered and received a surprise reward: seeing his jersey number, 15, added to the Mackey Arena rafters.
Edey played through an injured left leg, finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, became the first Big Ten player with 2,200 points and 1,200 rebounds and led No. 3 Purdue past Wisconsin 78-70 on Sunday. And then the Boilermakers surprised him by retiring his jersey.
“It's real cool. I had all my friends here from Toronto for like the first time,” Edey said before addressing the emotions of the day. “It's my last game in Mackey.”
And there was plenty to celebrate for Edey and Purdue (28-3, 17-3), winners of five straight.
Afterward, Edey stood arm in arm with his mother before addressing the crowd.
Before the game, coach Matt Painter presented point guard Braden Smith with a ceremonial ball for breaking Purdue's single-season assists record, which stood for nearly 50 years. Moments later, Purdue’s pep band played “O Canada” as a Senior Day tribute to Edey, who’s from Toronto.
“I’ve been trying to get them to do that for four years,” Edey joked.
Edey needed less than five minutes to grab the three rebounds needed to reach 1,200. It took a little longer for the Boilermakers' six-player senior class to match Indiana's record for conference wins, 59, over a four-year period. Indiana did it from 1972-76.
Fletcher Loyer added 15 points and Smith added 10 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Boilermakers, who won a second consecutive Big Ten title by at least three games.
John Blackwell scored 18 points for the Badgers (19-12, 11-9). Tyler Wahl had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and AJ Storr also scored 17.
“I thought we did a lot of good things offensively,” Badgers coach Greg Gard said. “That’s a tough team. I would say you can’t get a consistent diet of things in the paint just because of his presence.”
Purdue certainly tried to fight off Edey near the basket, fouling him 11 times. And it looked like Edey's presence might be short-lived when he limped gingerly to the bench with an apparent left leg injury and Purdue leading 17-9. He finished the half on the bench because of foul trouble.
And after Loyer's four-point play helped stake Purdue to a 40-26 lead, Smith appeared to hurt his right ankle on a non-contact play. He went to the locker room but returned 75 seconds later as the Boilermakers made it 44-33 at the half.
Edey and Loyer remained on the floor without apparent difficulty in the second half as the Badgers twice cut the deficit to four. But the Boilermakers answered with 3-pointers each time, first by Smith and then by Caleb Furst.
“You can tell he loves the game, you can tell he respects the game," forward Mason Gillis said when asked about Edey. “The people around know what he does. He looks out for everybody. He's a good guy in the gym. I don't think we could ask for a better national player of the year.”
BIG PICTURE
Wisconsin: The Badgers head into this week’s Big Ten Tournament as the league’s mystery team. They were ranked most of the season and climbed into the top 10 before losing four straight. They’ve now lost eight of 11.
Purdue: It’s time for the Boilermakers to focus on unfinished business following last year’s stunning first-round NCAA Tournament exit. Sure, there’s a conference tourney still ahead and the possibility of reclaiming the No. 1 ranking. But Painter’s squad had one major goal this season - and that quest begins next week.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Boilermakers are all but certain to extend the longest active streak of weeks ranked in the top five to 35.
UP NEXT
Wisconsin: Awaits its opening Big Ten tournament game.
Purdue: Heads to Minneapolis with the Big Ten’s No. 1 seed, a double bye and a Friday quarterfinal game.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Steven Crowl vs. Zach Edey (Boilermakers gains possession) | |||
19:45 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
19:43 | Zach Edey offensive rebound | |||
19:33 | Jump ball. Zach Edey vs. Steven Crowl (Badgers gains possession) | |||
19:33 | Zach Edey turnover (lost ball) (Steven Crowl steals) | |||
19:25 | Max Klesmit misses two point jump shot | |||
19:23 | Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound | |||
19:09 | Zach Edey misses two point hook shot | |||
19:07 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
18:58 | +2 | Chucky Hepburn makes two point jump shot | 2-0 | |
18:41 | +3 | Lance Jones makes three point jump shot (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists) | 2-3 | |
18:07 | Zach Edey blocks AJ Storr's two point layup | |||
18:05 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
17:59 | +3 | Lance Jones makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 2-6 | |
17:39 | +2 | Tyler Wahl makes two point layup (Steven Crowl assists) | 4-6 | |
17:24 | Lance Jones turnover (bad pass) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
17:08 | John Blackwell misses three point jump shot | |||
17:06 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
16:50 | Max Klesmit shooting foul (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
16:50 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-7 | |
16:50 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-8 | |
16:35 | Max Klesmit misses two point jump shot | |||
16:33 | Max Klesmit offensive rebound | |||
16:25 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
16:23 | Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound | |||
16:15 | Lance Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
16:13 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
15:51 | Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot | |||
15:49 | Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound | |||
15:42 | +2 | Fletcher Loyer makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists) | 4-10 | |
15:31 | Fletcher Loyer personal foul | |||
15:31 | TV timeout | |||
15:16 | AJ Storr misses two point layup | |||
15:14 | Boilermakers defensive rebound | |||
15:04 | +2 | Fletcher Loyer makes two point jump shot (Zach Edey assists) | 4-12 | |
14:47 | Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot | |||
14:45 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
14:36 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
14:34 | Tyler Wahl offensive rebound | |||
14:31 | Badgers 30 second timeout | |||
14:26 | +3 | Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Tyler Wahl assists) | 7-12 | |
14:06 | Mason Gillis misses three point jump shot | |||
14:04 | Zach Edey offensive rebound | |||
13:57 | Zach Edey misses two point layup | |||
13:55 | AJ Storr defensive rebound | |||
13:55 | AJ Storr turnover (Braden Smith steals) | |||
13:49 | Max Klesmit personal foul | |||
13:43 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
13:41 | Zach Edey offensive rebound | |||
13:38 | Jump ball. Zach Edey vs. Tyler Wahl (Boilermakers gains possession) | |||
13:34 | +2 | Fletcher Loyer makes two point layup (Camden Heide assists) | 7-14 | |
13:11 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 9-14 | |
12:48 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point layup (Mason Gillis assists) | 9-16 | |
12:48 | Nolan Winter shooting foul (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
12:48 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 9-17 | |
12:35 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point dunk | 11-17 | |
12:25 | +2 | Braden Smith makes two point layup | 11-19 | |
12:14 | Markus Ilver misses three point jump shot | |||
12:12 | Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound | |||
12:05 | Lance Jones misses two point jump shot | |||
12:03 | Badgers defensive rebound | |||
11:42 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point jump shot | 13-19 | |
11:23 | Steven Crowl shooting foul (Braden Smith draws the foul) | |||
11:23 | TV timeout | |||
11:23 | +1 | Braden Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-20 | |
11:23 | Braden Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
11:23 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
11:08 | Markus Ilver misses three point jump shot | |||
11:06 | Braden Smith defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | +2 | Lance Jones makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 13-22 | |
10:41 | Zach Edey blocks AJ Storr's two point layup | |||
10:39 | Mason Gillis defensive rebound | |||
10:28 | Steven Crowl personal foul | |||
10:14 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
10:12 | Zach Edey offensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Nolan Winter flagrant 1 (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
10:12 | +1 | Zach Edey makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 13-23 | |
10:12 | Zach Edey misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:03 | Ethan Morton misses three point jump shot | |||
10:01 | Zach Edey offensive rebound | |||
9:54 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point layup | 13-25 | |
9:34 | Lance Jones personal foul | |||
9:29 | Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot | |||
9:24 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
9:16 | +2 | Tyler Wahl makes two point hook shot | 15-25 | |
8:56 | Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point hook shot | |||
8:54 | Badgers defensive rebound | |||
8:54 | Caleb Furst personal foul | |||
8:43 | John Blackwell misses two point jump shot | |||
8:41 | Braden Smith defensive rebound | |||
8:30 | +2 | Braden Smith makes two point jump shot | 15-27 | |
8:13 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
8:11 | Tyler Wahl offensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Trey Kaufman-Renn shooting foul | |||
7:59 | TV timeout | |||
7:59 | John Blackwell misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:59 | +1 | John Blackwell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-27 | |
7:47 | Chucky Hepburn personal foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul) | |||
7:47 | +1 | Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-28 | |
7:47 | +1 | Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-29 | |
7:38 | Myles Colvin shooting foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
7:38 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-29 | |
7:38 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-29 | |
7:22 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists) | 18-31 | |
7:07 | Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot | |||
7:05 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
6:47 | +3 | AJ Storr makes three point jump shot (Kamari McGee assists) | 21-31 | |
6:26 | Tyler Wahl personal foul (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
6:26 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-32 | |
6:26 | Zach Edey misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:26 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
6:03 | Tyler Wahl misses two point hook shot | |||
6:01 | Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound | |||
5:51 | Fletcher Loyer turnover (AJ Storr steals) | |||
5:48 | Trey Kaufman-Renn clear path foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
5:48 | +1 | AJ Storr makes clear path free throw 1 of 2 | 22-32 | |
5:48 | +1 | AJ Storr makes clear path free throw 2 of 2 | 23-32 | |
5:36 | +2 | Tyler Wahl makes two point layup | 25-32 | |
5:21 | Zach Edey offensive foul | |||
5:21 | Zach Edey turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:15 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
5:13 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | +2 | Braden Smith makes two point jump shot | 25-34 | |
4:36 | Zach Edey personal foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul) | |||
4:36 | +1 | Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-34 | |
4:36 | Tyler Wahl misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:36 | Mason Gillis defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
4:20 | John Blackwell defensive rebound | |||
4:06 | Tyler Wahl turnover (Myles Colvin steals) | |||
3:59 | +3 | Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 26-37 | |
3:59 | Kamari McGee shooting foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul) | |||
3:59 | TV timeout | |||
3:59 | +1 | Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-38 | |
3:50 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
3:46 | Boilermakers defensive rebound | |||
3:29 | +2 | Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point layup | 26-40 | |
3:19 | Chucky Hepburn turnover (Myles Colvin steals) | |||
2:55 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
2:53 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
2:39 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
2:37 | Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound | |||
2:18 | Fletcher Loyer turnover (John Blackwell steals) | |||
2:09 | AJ Storr misses two point layup | |||
2:07 | Tyler Wahl offensive rebound | |||
1:58 | +2 | John Blackwell makes two point jump shot | 28-40 | |
1:44 | Markus Ilver personal foul (Lance Jones draws the foul) | |||
1:44 | +1 | Lance Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-41 | |
1:44 | +1 | Lance Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-42 | |
1:29 | +2 | John Blackwell makes two point layup (Chucky Hepburn assists) | 30-42 | |
1:29 | Trey Kaufman-Renn shooting foul (John Blackwell draws the foul) | |||
1:29 | +1 | John Blackwell makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 31-42 | |
1:10 | Lance Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
1:08 | Markus Ilver defensive rebound | |||
0:57 | +2 | Markus Ilver makes two point layup (Tyler Wahl assists) | 33-42 | |
0:47 | Boilermakers 30 second timeout | |||
0:33 | +2 | Caleb Furst makes two point layup (Fletcher Loyer assists) | 33-44 | |
0:07 | Tyler Wahl turnover (Lance Jones steals) | |||
0:00 | End of period |