Purdue Junior Center Zach Edey Out For Game Against New Orleans
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue basketball will be without its leading scorer and rebounder Wednesday night when the team takes on New Orleans at Mackey Arena. Junior center Zach Edey, who averages 22.6 points and 13.9 rebounds per game, is unable to suit up due to an illness.
Sophomore forward Caleb Furst will start at center when the game tips off at 9 p.m. ET, and junior forward Mason Gillis returns to the starting lineup in his second game back from an injury that forced him to miss three straight games.
The Last Game Before Holiday Break ✋🏽
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) December 22, 2022
G | @3bradensmith
G | @FletcherLoyer
G | @ethanmorton25
F | @GillisMason
F | @calebfurst
NOTE: Zach Edey is doubtful for tonight's contest (sick). pic.twitter.com/F9P0Symh4i
In 11 games so far this season for the Boilermakers, Edey is shooting 62.8% from the field and is on pace to set a career-high with a 71.6% mark from the free throw line. He's scored in double figures in every game while posting a double-double in all but two contests.
Edey posted a career-high with 31 points on 11-of-23 shooting in Purdue's 89-70 win against Minnesota on Dec. 4. In the same matchup, he also came down with a career-best 22 rebounds.
One year after ranking second in the country in rebound margin, the team now leads the country in rebound margin (+12.8) and is outscoring their opponents 147 to 69 in second-chance points.
With an 11-0 overall record and a 2-0 mark in Big Ten play, the Boilermakers are ranked No. 1 in the country for the second straight week. When they play the Privateers, it will be the first time in program history they will play in Mackey Arena as the nation's top-ranked team.
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- Purdue Remains No. 1 in Latest AP Top 25 Poll: After a victory over Davidson in the 2022 Indy Classic on Saturday, Purdue basketball remained No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Boilermakers are 11-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play so far this season. CLICK HERE
- Free Throws Fuel Purdue's 69-61 Win Over Davidson: Purdue moved to 11-0 on the season by knocking down 28 free throws in a victory against Davidson as part of the 2022 Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Junior center Zach Edey scored 29 points while pulling in 16 rebounds. CLICK HERE
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.