WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue junior center Zach Edey has been named to the late-season watch list for the Big O Trophy, presented by the United States Basketball Writers Association and given to the nation's top player, the organization announced today.
Edey is considered the front-runner for National Player of the Year accolades, having been named to several National Player of the Year watch lists (Wooden, Naismith, Big O Trophy, Abdul-Jabbar Award). He is one-of-15 players named to the Big O Trophy watch list, named after former Cincinnati great Oscar Robertson.
For the season, Edey is averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 61.2 percent from the field and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. In Big Ten play, his averages increase to 22.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.6 assists per game.
He ranks fifth in the country in scoring, first in rebounds, first in double-doubles, 19th in field goal percentage and 11th in blocked shots. He is on pace to become just the fourth player since 2000 to rank in the top five in both scoring and rebounding, and is on pace to become the first Big Ten player since Ohio State's Gary Bradds in 1963-64 to lead the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.
He has recorded six 30-10 games this season, more than the rest of the Big Ten combined (5) and currently owns the most-efficient season for any player since at least the 2009-10 season, according to sports-reference.com(.) His six 30-10 games are the second most in a season for a major-college player in the last 20 years, behind the seven by Marvin Bagley of Duke in 2017-18.
Edey's 14 games of 20 points and 10 rebounds are the most for a Big Ten player in the last 15 years and the second most for a major-college player in that span.
He is already the second Big Ten player in the last 30 years to have scored at least 600 points with 350 rebounds (Michigan's Chris Webber in 1992-93) and is on pace to become the first player since Navy's David Robinson (1985-86) to have at least 750 points, 400 rebounds and 75 blocked shots in a season.
Edey and the No. 5-ranked Boilermakers face Wisconsin tonight at 9 p.m. ET, on FS1.
Edey is considered the front-runner for National Player of the Year accolades, having been named to several National Player of the Year watch lists (Wooden, Naismith, Big O Trophy, Abdul-Jabbar Award). He is one-of-15 players named to the Big O Trophy watch list, named after former Cincinnati great Oscar Robertson.
For the season, Edey is averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 61.2 percent from the field and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. In Big Ten play, his averages increase to 22.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.6 assists per game.
He ranks fifth in the country in scoring, first in rebounds, first in double-doubles, 19th in field goal percentage and 11th in blocked shots. He is on pace to become just the fourth player since 2000 to rank in the top five in both scoring and rebounding, and is on pace to become the first Big Ten player since Ohio State's Gary Bradds in 1963-64 to lead the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.
He has recorded six 30-10 games this season, more than the rest of the Big Ten combined (5) and currently owns the most-efficient season for any player since at least the 2009-10 season, according to sports-reference.com(.) His six 30-10 games are the second most in a season for a major-college player in the last 20 years, behind the seven by Marvin Bagley of Duke in 2017-18.
Edey's 14 games of 20 points and 10 rebounds are the most for a Big Ten player in the last 15 years and the second most for a major-college player in that span.
He is already the second Big Ten player in the last 30 years to have scored at least 600 points with 350 rebounds (Michigan's Chris Webber in 1992-93) and is on pace to become the first player since Navy's David Robinson (1985-86) to have at least 750 points, 400 rebounds and 75 blocked shots in a season.
Edey and the No. 5-ranked Boilermakers face Wisconsin tonight at 9 p.m. ET, on FS1.