Big Ten Daily (Nov. 14): Zach Edey Dominates in Purdue's Win Over Xavier
The reigning National Player of the Year looked like, well, the reigning National Player of the Year on Monday night. Zach Edey scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots in Purdue's 83-71 victory over Xavier on Monday, the first night of the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
Let's be honest, there are probably going to be two dozen games this season in which the phrase, "Zach Edey dominated" fits appropriately. But Xavier was the first real challenge for the Boilermakers in the early season. The 7-foot-4 center, once again, passed the test.
Monday marked the first time Edey's time on the court exceeded 24 minutes. While Xavier attempted to mitigate the damage, there was no stopping the Big Ten's top player. He converted on nine of his 17 shot attempts from the floor. When he was sent to the free throw line, Edey connected on 10-of-11.
Musketeers coach Sean Miller, in a roundabout way, admitted there's just not much anyone can do to defend Edey.
"We really tried to keep a body between him and the basket," Miller said. "We held him to 28 and 11. He fouled out our whole team."
A double-double from Edey has become expectation for Purdue. It's the pieces around him that many questioned coming into the season — and whether they'd be good enough to make a run come March. Monday looked promising.
Braden Smith looked like a court leader, scoring 12 points and dishing out seven assists. Lance Jones' athleticism flashed. Myles Colvin buried all three of his 3-point attempts off the bench.
Monday was Purdue's first test, and the Boilermakers looked the part. Things ramp up in a hurry, though. Matt Painter takes his squad to the Maui Invitational for a first-round matchup against No. 11 Gonzaga. Other potential opponents include No. 7 Tennessee, No. 4 Marquette, No. 1 Kansas, UCLA and Syracuse.
We're going to find out just how good this Purdue squad is in a hurry.
Welcome back, Keisei Tominaga
Edey might be the Big Ten's most dominant player, but it's hard to argue that Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga isn't the most likable in the conference. Monday night, the Huskers' sharpshooter made his return to the court after missing the first two contests with an ankle injury.
As you might expect, Tominaga worked to kick off some of the rust in Nebraska's 64-50 win over Rider. The senior converted on just three of his 11 shots from deep, ending the game with nine points.
The senior has plenty of time to get adjusted this week. Monday's game against Rider was the first of three the Huskers will play in a six-day span. Wednesday, Nebraska hosts Stony Brook before traveling to Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota for a showdown with Oregon State.
Jim Harbaugh calls Michigan 'America's Team'
Leave it to Jim Harbaugh to turn Michigan into a victim. The Wolverines leader made an outlandish statement as it related to his team as it continues battling allegations of signal stealing.
“It’s gotta be America’s team. It’s gotta be America’s team,” Harbaugh said Monday. “America loves a team that beats the odds, beats the adversity, overcomes what the naysayers, critics, so-called experts think. That’s my favorite kind of team.”
Harbaugh is correct in saying that America loves a good underdog story. But that doesn't apply to Michigan. The Wolverines quickly turned into the bullies of the Big Ten and still found it necessary to bring brass knuckles into the fight. Nobody wants to root for that.
Sure, Harbaugh can defend his team all he wants -- that's his right as the team leader. In this situation, though, it's better to embrace the role of a villain. That's what Michigan is in this situation.
"America's Team" should have some principles.
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