Tag: Zach Edey

NCAA basketball National Championship Game: Purdue vs. UConn prop bet picks and predictions

Analyzing Monday’s Purdue vs. UConn National Championship Game with expert picks and predictions of the best 4 prop bets to make.

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The Purdue Boilermakers (34-4) and UConn Huskies (36-3) will meet in the NCAA Tournament National Championship Game Monday in Glendale, Ariz. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. (TBS). Below, we break down BetMGM Sportsbook’s before NCAA basketball National Championship prop bet odds, and tab the best Purdue vs. UConn prop bets to make among SportsbookWire’s expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Both were favorites and covered in their respective Final Four games Saturday.

Purdue, the Midwest’s No. 1 seed, beat NC State 63-50 as a 9.5-point favorite in the 1st semifinal with the Under (147) easily cashing. The Wolfpack were the big surprise in the Final Four, winning the South Region as the No. 11 seed, but the magical run finally came to an end.

UConn, the East’s top seed, defeated Alabama 86-72 and covered as a 10-point favorite with the Under (160.5) coming in. The Huskies, who are No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, held just a 4-point lead at the half and were tied at 56-all with just over 12 minutes to go against the Crimson Tide, who were the 4th seed out of the West Region.

The Huskies closed with a 30-16 run to finish off the Tide and move a win away from its 6th national title and from becoming the 1st repeat champion since the 2006-’07 Florida Gators. Only UCLA (11), Kentucky (8) and North Carolina (6) have more titles, while UConn is tied with Duke and Indiana at 5 championships each.

The Boilermakers, the No. 3 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, are searching for their 1st NCAA title. They have been to the title game once before, losing to UCLA in 1969.

Purdue is led by 2024 AP Player of the Year C Zach Edey. He’s the 1st men’s basketball player to capture the award in consecutive seasons since Virginia’s Ralph Sampson won 3 in a row 1981–’83. Ohio State’s Jerry Lucas (1961-’62), UCLA’s Bill Walton (1972-’73) and NC State’s David Thompson (1974-’75) are the only players to win the award more than once.

Purdue is 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in its 5 NCAA Tourney games with the Under going 4-1, while UConn is also 5-0 ATS with the Under at 5-0. Big East schools own a perfect 7-0 straight up (SU) and ATS record in championship games since 2001, while Big Ten teams are winless at 0-7 SU and ATS.

Now, let’s make some money on some prop bets.

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Best Purdue vs. UConn National Championship Game prop bets picks

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook’s; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:55 a.m. ET.

Purdue G Braden Smith OVER 5.5 rebounds (+120)

Listed at 6-foot, Smith may be one of the shortest men on the court, but he plays bigger. He has pulled down 8, 7, and 8 rebounds over his last 3 NCAA Tournament games against teams with very athletic guards like Tennessee and NC State. Smith averages 5.9 rebounds per game on the season, so he just needs to hit his average and we’re getting plus-money on this prop.

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UConn G Stephon Castle OVER 4.5 rebounds (-130)

Sure, there’s a bit of juice for this one, but it’s because it seems like a lock. Castle grabbed at least 5 rebounds in 4 of UConn’s 5 NCAA Tourney games. He got into foul trouble against Northwestern in the 2nd round which is the reason he only finished with 2 boards. The 6-foot-6 guard averages 4.7 rebounds per game this season and isn’t afraid to mix it up with big men like Edey.

Purdue G Fletcher Loyer OVER 9.5 points (-120)

Here’s another bet with a bit of juice, but you’ve got to feel good about this one Monday night. Loyer has hit double-digit points in Purdue’s last 4 games. The only reason he didn’t get there in the Boilers’ NCAA Tourney opener against Gambling is because he only played 25 minutes in a blowout, and he still knocked down 8 points. Loyer has been a huge piece to the Boilermakers’ success in this tournament.

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Purdue UNDER 69.5 team total points (-110)

Enough people don’t give UConn the credit it deserves for its defensive ability. The Huskies rank 10th in the country at points allowed per game (PPG) at just 63.5 points, per CBSSports.com. This is after holding the top scoring team in the country in Alabama (90.1 PPG) to 72 points in their Final Four matchup. If you recall, UConn shut down Illinois’ high-powered offense (83.4 PPG) to just 52 points in the Elite 8, which included a 9-minute stretch where UConn went on a 30-0 run. Plus, the Boilermakers only scored 63 vs. NC State Saturday.

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With the Big Ten on their backs, Purdue advances to NCAA Tournament’s championship game

Purdue basketball is on the national championship in the NCAA Tournament.

On Saturday, Purdue continued its national championship run with a 63-50 win over NC State. The Boilermakers are one win from making history and the program’s first NCAA title.

While NC State defied the odds to make it to the Final Four, they had no answer for Purdue and their talented center, Zach Edey. The Toronto native continued to dominate with a team-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. Along with his teammates, Edey is now ready to play on the biggest stage in college basketball, a moment he has been dreaming about.

“The reason I came back is for playing games like this,” Edey told ESPN. “It’s the reason I’m playing college basketball for four years, to finally get this game, big-time.”

Livin’ for one more day. pic.twitter.com/opnYU1yOaq

— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) April 7, 2024

Although Edey dominated on the boards, Purdue was able to pull away late due to its success from beyond the arc. The Boilermakers shot 40 percent from three-point range, while NC State shot 26.3. For Purdue, Fletcher Loyer came up huge in those situations, making three of his five shots from three-point range.

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After a one-day hiatus, Purdue will be back in action on Monday night to take on UConn. Entering the National Championship, UConn is the favorite, according to ESPN. The Huskies will be looking to win their second straight title and sixth in school history.

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey leads Purdue to Final Four win

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey leads Purdue to Final Four win.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Purdue center Zach Edey. He finished with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 40 minutes in Purdue’s 63-50 win over NC State in the Final Four on Saturday.

Edey is a polarizing figure as a draft prospect. After opting out of last year’s draft, he returned for his senior season at Purdue and put up monster numbers. In 35 games, he averaged 24.5 points on 62% shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. He led Purdue to a No. 1 seed.

The concern with the 7-foot-4, 300-pound big man is his mobility and slowness. If he can’t improve in those areas, he might not survive as an NBA center.

On the Thunder, Edey would add serious size to a small roster. He can play a traditional big-man role and pair with Chet Holmgren nicely. He ultimately might not fit with OKC due to his lack of playmaking.

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How to buy Purdue vs. UConn NCAA Men’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch Purdue and UConn play for the title in person? Limited tickets for the Men’s NCAA Championship game still remain for as little as $192.

After almost three weeks of true basketball madness, chalk reigns supreme in the men’s bracket, as No. 1 Purdue and No. 1 UConn will play for a national championship.

The Boilermakers turned No. 11 NC State’s Cinderella run into the proverbial pumpkin behind 20 points and 12 rebounds from Zach Edey, though the Wolfpack have every reason to hold their heads high after a fantastic tournament run.

No. 4 Alabama played UConn closer than any team so far in the NCAA Tournament, but the Huskies were too much when it mattered most, closing the game on a 30-16 run, and defeating the Crimson Tide 86-72.

SHOP: Purdue vs. UConn NCAA Finals tickets

In a college basketball season marked by upsets, two of the best teams, with two of the best big men in the country will square off with a national title on the line.

The National Championship Game will be played in Glendale, Ariz on Monday, April 8 at 9:20 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see history, either with Purdue’s first NCAA Tournament title or UConn’s back-to-back championships.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $192.

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LeBron James perfectly explained why women’s college basketball has more star power than men’s

This was a BRILLIANT point from LeBron about the NCAA and one-and-done rules.

Like countless basketball fans around the world, LeBron James is watching both men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments with a close eye.

James, whose son Bronny James played in the NCAA at USC but did not make the tournament, is still tuning into March Madness. The four-time NBA Finals MVP was asked what stands out about the way the style of play in the NCAA.

At first, James talked about the fundamentals of the game on the court. But eventually, he transitioned to discussing the popularity of the game and the way that it is received by the fans.

He highlighted the increasing popularity of NCAA women’s stars such as Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and others. All of these individuals, he noted, have become icons in the sport:

“I don’t think there is much difference between the men and women games when it comes to college basketball. I think the popularity comes in is the icon’s they have in the women’s game. You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu, you look at Caitlin Clark. You look at Paige.”

These players are fantastic, entertaining, talented, and accomplished on and off the court. They deserve all of the attention they are getting now and will continue to receive in the future.

They will continue to have a massive presence when they turn pro.

“You’re able to build a real iconic legacy at a program and that’s what we all love about it. We love the girl’s game because of that moment … That’s what makes the Final Four and the Elite Eight so great. Iowa was a great team but Caitlin Clark is the reason we tuned in. You’re going to watch Purdue because of Zach Edey because he’s a great player … Players, depending on who they are, will drive the attention when it comes to viewership.”

James went on to compliment the way that the women play the game, discussing the way they pass to their teammates and cut to the basket and dive for loose balls.

But eventually he came back to the way that each of the women that he mentioned above have the ability to really grow their brands while they’re in college. It’s not just star power. It’s staying power.

That means that these storylines develop over the years they play, too, which allows for fans to become invested. That is one of the many reasons why the recent game between Iowa and LSU smashed ESPN’s TV ratings.

More fans watched that than any of the men’s games. James speculated why:

“The star power that we have in the women’s game outweighs some of the men, too … It’s hard to keep up with a lot of the guys because of the transfer portal. Guys are moving. It’s hard to keep up with a certain individual. It’s not the JJ Redick’s where he was there at Duke for four years. Or Shane Battier who came back four years or Miles Simon or Mike Bibby in the late 90s when they was playing.”

It is true that the transfer portal is as busy as ever and that makes it hard for fans to latch on to individual players as their favorites. (There are rumors that LeBron’s son, Bronny, could enter the portal from USC if he does not declare for the 2024 NBA Draft.)

Yet the bigger causation, according to LeBron, is the increased prevalence of the one-and-done prospect pipeline from NCAA men’s college basketball into the NBA.

Many players inevitably decide to turn pro as soon as possible in the NBA. ESPN’s latest projections only have two players with multiple years of college experience (Dalton Knecht and Zach Edey) predicted to hear their names in the lottery of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Because that’s not an option in the WNBA, women’s college basketball has bigger names than men’s.

“It’s just a different time between the men and women and men can come out right after their freshman year. If I have a big [expletive] season after my freshman season of college basketball, I’m going to the league … JuJu, she can’t come out. If she could, you think she might? Maybe. But that’s the difference.”

Watkins, as James noted, is a fascinating example of a player who perhaps would consider declaring for the WNBA Draft even though she has played just one year in the NCAA.

Instead, fans will watch her play several more seasons in college basketball. That’s going to give her multiple years to build her brand and by that time she is 22 years old, her popularity among basketball fans will have plenty of eyes on her whenever she steps on the court.

Ironically, LeBron himself is one of the last prep-to-pro high school draftees in the NBA’s history. Now, even before they are ready to contribute impactful minutes, prospects want to turn pro as fast as possible and will only play one year in the NCAA.

That, however, simply limits how often we truly see stars in men’s college basketball. Women’s college basketball, however, has no shortage of players who have created unmatched legacies for themselves in the collegiate game.

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The latest 2024 NBA mock draft from Bleacher Report has Zach Edey going to the Bucks

Could Zach Edey really be a first-rounder?

Is Purdue big man Zach Edey a lottery pick? A first-rounder at all? A second-round big man worth gambling on?

In some mock drafts ahead of the real thing in 2024, he’s in the lottery. In our latest NBA mock draft from Bryan Kalbrosky, he’s not in the first round.

There’s a middle ground when it comes to the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman. He’s taken at No. 25 by the Milwaukee Bucks, which would be interesting given their team makeup — maybe he can be a useful backup to spell their frontcourt.

Here’s what Wasserman said about this pick:

He’s been dominant without showing anything. Opponents have had no answer for his drop steps into the lane and jump hooks, and nobody has had the strength or height to regularly keep him from catching and finishing off rolls or positioning himself for putbacks.

Edey has been disruptive in rim protection as well, contesting shots without fouling and altering penetrating guards’ decisions in the lane.

Scouts remain hopeful for a Purdue championship game against Connecticut and Donovan Clingan, who may be the only prospect capable of physically matching up.

Regardless, as rare and powerful as Edey’s impact has been, there will continue to be skeptics questioning his fit and value on an NBA floor. He’s still going to require a specific team, presumably one with shooters, that’s drawn to the idea of adding more physicality, easy baskets and shot-blocking in the middle.

There you have it! Don’t forget to check out our latest NBA Mock Draft from Kalbrosky!

Zach Edey was a high school baseball pitcher but this video shows basketball was the right choice

Edey eventually outgrew the sport but he was a sight to behold.

Long before he was absolutely dominating during March Madness, Purdue big man Zach Edey was playing a different sport in high school.

Edey, a 7-foot-4 center who is originally from Canada, was the national collegiate player of the year last season and will likely win it again this year. The big man has led Purdue to the Final Four for the first time since 1980.

But what is especially difficult to believe is that Edey did not even play basketball until he was a sophomore in high school. Before that, he was focused on ice hockey and baseball.

This video is resurfacing of him playing baseball and he was not bad! His fastball needed way more velocity but that is an intimidating presence to bat against.

Edey pitched in Ontario for the travel team Leaside. He was even reportedly scouted to play baseball at the University of Alabama.

He had a “stellar” youth baseball career, per The Athletic, and began his career as a first baseman. Edey was also throwing 70 to 75 miles per hour at 13 years old.

Although he wanted to become the tallest MLB player to ever play, Edey admitted that the sport became a lot harder for him as he grew (via Journal & Courier):

“It was something I really wanted during my childhood. Something I dreamed about,” Edey said. “I kind of outgrew the sport. My shoulder was kind of giving out a little bit. It wasn’t very realistic anymore.”

He elaborated about the difficulties of the growth sport (via Stadium):

“I was growing so much, losing muscle mass, and I couldn’t hit,” Edey said. “I was uncoordinated because of the amount of size I put on. My eye line changed, everything changed. I was still pitching fairly well, but had a lot of arm, shoulder and elbow problems. I was throwing too hard for where my muscle development was at, and I lost a lot of my love for the sport because I felt like I was outgrowing it.”

Even though Edey potentially could have played college baseball in the United States, he now has a chance to become a lottery pick as an NBA player.

We projected that the big man will hear his name called in the first round of our latest 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

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Watch: In high school, Zach Edey was raw and unproven but flashed his potential

In high school, Zach Edey was raw but flashed his potential.

Zach Edey has Purdue heading to the Final Four, having put together another outstanding performance over the weekend in the NCAA Tournament. March Madness has been truly maddening for opposing defenses trying to stop the Purdue center.

All of which makes Edey’s high school recruitment a bit of its own madness. As a center at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) in the class of 2020, Edey was certainly under-recruited based on his eventual output for Purdue.

On Sunday, Edey scored 40 points as Purdue booked their ticket to the Final Four with a win over Tennessee. He is averaging 25.0 points per game on the season and a career-high 2.2 blockers per game.

Born in Canada, Edey didn’t start playing organized basketball till his sophomore year of high school. At IMG, he took a significant step forward in his development but was still very much under the radar.

Then a 7-foot-3, 265-pounder center, Edey had offers that included Baylor, Minnesota, Santa Clara and Tulane among others.

In the On3 Industry Rankings, Edey was a consensus three-star recruit and was ranked the No. 255 player in the nation.

 

Watching these highlights of Edey and it is clear that his size was the biggest factor in his high school success. There is just no one at the high school level who was prepared to handle his length.

But the nuances to his game, including his outside game, really began to develop at Purdue. Watching his unrefined potential, however, is a real treat.

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey dominates as Purdue reaches Final Four

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey dominates as Purdue reaches Final Four.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Purdue center Zach Edey. He finished with 40 points on 13-of-21 shooting, 14-of-22 from the free-throw line and 16 rebounds in 39 minutes in No. 1 Purdue’s 72-66 win over No. 2 Tennessee in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Edey is a polarizing figure as a draft prospect. After opting out of last year’s draft, he returned for his senior season at Purdue and put up monster numbers. In 35 games, he averaged 24.5 points on 62% shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. He led Purdue to a No. 1 seed.

The concern with the 7-foot-4, 300-pound big man is his mobility and slowness. If he can’t improve in those areas, he might not survive as an NBA center.

On the Thunder, Edey adds serious size to a small roster. He can play a traditional big-man role and pair with Chet Holmgren nicely. He ultimately might not fit with OKC due to his lack of playmaking.

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Big Ten Notebook: March madness continues as Purdue advances to Final Four

Purdue continues its roll in the NCAA Tournament.

For the first time since 1980, the Final Four will feature the Purdue Boilermakers. On Sunday, Purdue continued it’s March Madness run with a win 72-66 over Tennessee.

In a hard-fought battle, the Boilermakers were able to pull away in the second half due to the play of Zach Edey. The Toronto native scored 40 points and added 16 rebounds to his resume. However, he wasn’t the only Purdue player who had a big game; Fletcher Loyer chipped in 14 points.

As Purdue continued their impressive play, they dominated close to the basket. They outscored Tennessee in the paint 40-24 and were able to take advantage of offensive rebounds. That allowed Purdue to hold off a late Tennessee rally.

Additionally, Purdue showed that they had learned from their mistakes last year and relied on their experience.

🌵 SEE YOU IN PHOENIX FOR THE FINAL FOUR! pic.twitter.com/QtXwUSOtbE

— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 31, 2024

 

“We had to take it,” Painter told ESPN when asked of the abuse that came last year. “Sometimes when you sit in it, and you’re honest with yourself, and you take it, some great things can happen.”

After an extended break, Purdue will be back in action on Saturday, April sixth. They will face NC State with a trip to the National Championship on the line.