WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Given annually to America's top defensive player, Zach Edey has been named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award watch list, the organization announced today.
Already a front-runner for National Player of the Year awards, Edey is now on the list for the top defensive honor as well. Edey is one of 15 players named to the watch list.
Defensively, Edey has led a Boilermaker defense that ranks in the nation's top 30 in defensive efficiency (16th), scoring defense (11th), field goal percentage defense (29th) and rebound margin (1st). The Boilermakers are allowing 59.8 points per game, the lowest average for an opponent since the 2008-09 season (59.8 points per game). Foes are shooting just 39.7 percent from the field, but even more impressive, opponents are averaging just 9.4 free throw attempts per game, the lowest mark for a team nationally in the last 15 years.
Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, is considered the front-runner for the National Player of the Year awards. He currently averages 21.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 assists per game while shooting over 60.0 percent from the field and over 75.0 percent from the free throw line – ranking 10th nationally in scoring and second in rebounds. He is also second nationally with 16 double-doubles.
In Big Ten games, Edey is averaging 20.8 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, ranking second in the league in all games played and league games only in blocked shots. He leads the league in rebounding.
Edey and the No. 1-ranked Boilermakers face Michigan tonight in Ann Arbor, beginning at 9 p.m. ET, on FS1.
Already a front-runner for National Player of the Year awards, Edey is now on the list for the top defensive honor as well. Edey is one of 15 players named to the watch list.
Defensively, Edey has led a Boilermaker defense that ranks in the nation's top 30 in defensive efficiency (16th), scoring defense (11th), field goal percentage defense (29th) and rebound margin (1st). The Boilermakers are allowing 59.8 points per game, the lowest average for an opponent since the 2008-09 season (59.8 points per game). Foes are shooting just 39.7 percent from the field, but even more impressive, opponents are averaging just 9.4 free throw attempts per game, the lowest mark for a team nationally in the last 15 years.
Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, is considered the front-runner for the National Player of the Year awards. He currently averages 21.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 assists per game while shooting over 60.0 percent from the field and over 75.0 percent from the free throw line – ranking 10th nationally in scoring and second in rebounds. He is also second nationally with 16 double-doubles.
In Big Ten games, Edey is averaging 20.8 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, ranking second in the league in all games played and league games only in blocked shots. He leads the league in rebounding.
Edey and the No. 1-ranked Boilermakers face Michigan tonight in Ann Arbor, beginning at 9 p.m. ET, on FS1.