Zach Edey gets petty vs. Rick Barnes after Purdue beats Tennessee in Elite Eight
The Tennessee Volunteers weren't able to solve the mystery of slowing down Purdue center Zach Edey at either the beginning of the season or the end. The Vols fell to Purdue 71-67 in the Maui Invitational and unfortunately fell in similar fashion on Sunday 72-66 in the Elite Eight in Detroit, Michigan. After the game, […]
The Tennessee Volunteers weren't able to solve the mystery of slowing down Purdue center Zach Edey at either the beginning of the season or the end. The Vols fell to Purdue 71-67 in the Maui Invitational and unfortunately fell in similar fashion on Sunday 72-66 in the Elite Eight in Detroit, Michigan.
After the game, Edey – who finished with 40 points and 15 rebounds against the Vols – talked about how he's been doubted and overlooked in his past, and he couldn't help but mention Rick Barnes as a coach who overlooked him.
"Name a program, I can name a coach that looked over me," Edey said after the game. "At Tennessee, Rick Barnes is a great coach. He was in a bunch of our practices. Looked over me. It's kind of been the story of my life. People doubted me. People looked past me, and can't do that anymore."
It's kind of odd to hear a player who received scholarship offers from both Purdue and Baylor – both terrific basketball programs – as well as Seton Hall and Minnesota talking about overcoming the odds and doubters. Especially one who is 7 foot 4 inches tall.
Sure, Barnes perhaps was at some of his practices and ultimately didn't extend him an offer. And it seems like Edey certainly didn't get as much attention as he deserved from programs across the country during his recruiting given the level talent he's eventually displayed.
However, Edey ultimately went to a very good program in Purdue straight out of high school (IMG Academy in Bradenton). He made the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2021. He became an All-American and the consensus national player of the year last year.
In other words, he had a pretty straightforward and traditional path from the start of his college career to his senior year, unlike other players who scrapped at smaller schools before finally getting an opportunity and shining on the big stage (hello, Dalton Knecht).
It's also quite advantageous to be significantly taller than everyone else on the floor and the beneficiary of a favorable whistle every time you step onto the court and draw contact.
But I guess Edey will rationalize whatever he feels that motivated him to get where he's at. Even if it's petty.
Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield chime in on officiating in Tennessee Vols’ loss to Purdue
The former Tennessee standouts shared the opinion of many on Sunday
