GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The nationwide championship sport might be a beefy one.
In a single nook of the paint is Zach Edey, Purdue’s 7-foot-4, 300-pound unstoppable power. Reverse him might be Donovan Clingan, UConn’s 7-2, 280-pound game-altering middle.
One huge man is predicted to be an NBA lottery choose. The opposite isn’t in most projections, regardless of being the primary repeat AP nationwide participant of the yr because the early Eighties.
“There’s completely a spot within the NBA for Zach,” Purdue coach Matt Painter stated.
The place Edey matches on the subsequent degree is a query mark heading into his ultimate faculty sport, towards UConn in Monday’s nationwide championship sport.
Edey has been faculty basketball’s most dominant huge man in a long time, his dimension and talent making him virtually not possible to defend.
Edey led the nation through the common season with 24.9 factors per sport and was second in rebounding, averaging 12.2. He shot 63% from the ground and dominated on the defensive finish, blocking 2.16 photographs per sport.
Edey has been even higher in Purdue’s run to its first Last 4 since 1980, changing into the primary participant in NCAA Match historical past with at the least 20 factors and 10 rebounds in six straight video games.
The query marks about Edey within the NBA come from his mobility and taking pictures vary. He has dimension not like any faculty participant in years, however doesn’t have the lateral mobility entrance places of work covet in right this moment’s NBA.
Edey performs virtually completely together with his again to the basket and infrequently shoots from the surface — 1 for two from 3 this season — so NBA scouts don’t actually know if he can shoot from the perimeter.
Then once more, Edey’s sheer dimension, nimble footwork and skill to seek out open shooters by way of double groups makes him a uncommon commodity. As soon as thought-about a second-round NBA draft choose, Edey has seen his inventory rise throughout this season’s run, with some scouting providers placing him simply outdoors the lottery.
“It’s a novel problem. He’s a novel participant,” UConn coach Dan Hurley stated. “I don’t suppose one factor goes to work within the sport. You must hold him off steadiness.”
Clingan is constructed totally different as properly. He was a top-50 recruit out of Bristol Central Excessive Faculty in Connecticut and performed a key function within the Huskies’ fifth nationwide championship a yr in the past.
Clingan has taken enormous strides this season, changing into the point of interest of UConn’s offense and protection. He averaged 13.1 factors on 64% taking pictures and seven.4 rebounds on a crew loaded with expertise.
UConn’s huge man averaged 2.5 blocked photographs per sport and, like Edey, has such a presence most gamers received’t even problem him. Illinois discovered what occurs while you do within the Elite Eight, lacking all 19 photographs he contested.
Clingan is nice on the low put up, has strong footwork and is an adept passer out of double groups. The distinction between him and Edey, at the least within the eyes of scouts, is his agility and potential potential to shoot from the perimeter.
Clingan hasn’t shot many from the 3-point arc — 2 for 7 this season — however has the kind of contact that’s anticipated to translate to the spread-out NBA sport.
“Clingan is absolutely good,” Painter stated. “He modifies the sport defensively, however offensively he’s participant, too. He’s simply going to maintain coming. He’s going to be a superb participant. He’s received 15 to twenty years in entrance of him.”
Edey seemingly does as properly. It’s only a matter of proving what he has achieved on the faculty degree will work within the NBA.
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AP March Insanity bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
