2024 NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga has 'an advantage' in rematch vs. Purdue in Sweet 16

Making a game plan for Zach Edey for a third time in two seasons could be advantageous for the Bulldogs

Zach Edey, Graham Ike / Mitchell Layton/GettyImages

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are already quite familiar with Zach Edey’s game.

Friday’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup between the Zags and Purdue marks the third time the two programs will see each other over the course of 16 months. Both games went in Purdue’s favor in large part because of Edey’s dominance down low. 

The 7-foot-4 All American went for 23 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in an 84-66 beatdown in Portland during the PK85 event in 2022. A year later, he dropped 25 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks on the Bulldogs in a 73-63 triumph at the Maui invitational in November. Few teams in the nation have been able to slow Edey down over the last two seasons, though perhaps there is some truth to the saying “third time’s a charm” when the two meet yet again in Detroit on Friday.

Former Gonzaga All-Americans Dan Dickau and Adam Morrison discussed how facing Purdue for a third time in two seasons is advantageous for the Zags in regards to defending Edey, and much more on the 2024 NCAA Tournament, in a new episode of Talking Zags.

WATCH TALKING ZAGS EPISODE