WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Senior Zach Edey and sophomore Braden Smith are two of 40 players named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy and All-America watch list, the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced Tuesday afternoon.
Purdue is one of four schools (Houston, Kansas, North Carolina) with two players on the list and the Boilermaker duo are two of four Big Ten players on the list (Northwestern's Boo Buie, Illinois' Terrence Shannon).
Edey won last year's award and is looking to become just the seventh repeat winner of the award (Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Lew Alcindor, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, Ralph Sampson) and first since Virginia's Ralph Sampson in 1981 to 1983.
On Monday, Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the 11th time in his career – the most of any player in Big Ten history, passing Ohio State's Evan Turner for the records. Edey averaged 30.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the field and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the free throw line in Purdue's two victories. He had zero turnovers in 65 minutes of action during the week.
Edey's seven career 30-15 games are the most for a high-major player in the last 15 years (Marvin Bagley, Blake Griffin – 4) by three games. His 10 career games of at least 25 points and 15 rebounds are also the most nationally in that span (Blake Griffin – 9).
Edey moved into second place on Purdue's career scoring chart, passing Joe Barry Carroll (2,175), now with 2,197 points. He is just 125 points behind career leader Rick Mount (2,323). He also moved into the top 15 on the Big Ten's all-time scoring list (2,197 points).
His 14 career 30-10 games are the second most for any player in the last 15 years (South Dakota State's Mike Daum – 21). Edey now needs three points and 22 rebounds to become the first player in Big Ten history with 2,200 career points and 1,200 career rebounds.
Edey has 664 points (15th in school history) and 331 rebounds (5th in school history) during his senior season. He is shooting 62.7 percent from the field and is one assist shy of his career high with 51 (52 in 2022-23). He is averaging 23.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 71.9 percent from the free throw line.
In Big Ten play, Edey's averages balloon to 24.9 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 63.9 percent from the field.
Smith, meanwhile, is the only player in America averaging at least 12.0 points, 7.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds, ranking fifth in the country in assists per game at 7.3. Smith needs just five assists to set the Purdue single-season record for assists in a season (Bruce Parkinson – 207). He is currently one of three players in Big Ten history to average 12 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
On the season, Smith is averaging 12.7 points, 7.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from 3-point range.
Smith's 7.8 assist average in Big Ten play would rank second in Big Ten history.
On the season, he is already one of just two players in league history (Magic Johnson) to amass at least 350 points, 200 assists, 150 rebounds and 40 steals in a season. Smith has at least five games remaining.
Purdue hosts Michigan State on Saturday night in Mackey Arena at 8 p.m. ET, for its annual T-shirt game.
Purdue is one of four schools (Houston, Kansas, North Carolina) with two players on the list and the Boilermaker duo are two of four Big Ten players on the list (Northwestern's Boo Buie, Illinois' Terrence Shannon).
Edey won last year's award and is looking to become just the seventh repeat winner of the award (Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Lew Alcindor, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, Ralph Sampson) and first since Virginia's Ralph Sampson in 1981 to 1983.
On Monday, Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the 11th time in his career – the most of any player in Big Ten history, passing Ohio State's Evan Turner for the records. Edey averaged 30.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the field and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the free throw line in Purdue's two victories. He had zero turnovers in 65 minutes of action during the week.
Edey's seven career 30-15 games are the most for a high-major player in the last 15 years (Marvin Bagley, Blake Griffin – 4) by three games. His 10 career games of at least 25 points and 15 rebounds are also the most nationally in that span (Blake Griffin – 9).
Edey moved into second place on Purdue's career scoring chart, passing Joe Barry Carroll (2,175), now with 2,197 points. He is just 125 points behind career leader Rick Mount (2,323). He also moved into the top 15 on the Big Ten's all-time scoring list (2,197 points).
His 14 career 30-10 games are the second most for any player in the last 15 years (South Dakota State's Mike Daum – 21). Edey now needs three points and 22 rebounds to become the first player in Big Ten history with 2,200 career points and 1,200 career rebounds.
Edey has 664 points (15th in school history) and 331 rebounds (5th in school history) during his senior season. He is shooting 62.7 percent from the field and is one assist shy of his career high with 51 (52 in 2022-23). He is averaging 23.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 71.9 percent from the free throw line.
In Big Ten play, Edey's averages balloon to 24.9 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 63.9 percent from the field.
Smith, meanwhile, is the only player in America averaging at least 12.0 points, 7.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds, ranking fifth in the country in assists per game at 7.3. Smith needs just five assists to set the Purdue single-season record for assists in a season (Bruce Parkinson – 207). He is currently one of three players in Big Ten history to average 12 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
On the season, Smith is averaging 12.7 points, 7.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from 3-point range.
Smith's 7.8 assist average in Big Ten play would rank second in Big Ten history.
On the season, he is already one of just two players in league history (Magic Johnson) to amass at least 350 points, 200 assists, 150 rebounds and 40 steals in a season. Smith has at least five games remaining.
Purdue hosts Michigan State on Saturday night in Mackey Arena at 8 p.m. ET, for its annual T-shirt game.