Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter has had enough of Zach Edey’s critics.
After routing the Utah State Aggies 106-67 in the Round of 32, one reporter asked the head coach about his seven-foot center. Edey finished the game with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks, and posted a double-double in the first half.
Yet some people in the media seem convinced that the only reason is good at basketball is because of his enormous frame. When the reporter asked for Painter’s perspective on the notion, he lambasted everyone who believes Edey lacks skill.
“Yeah, they just shouldn’t cover basketball,” Painter said rather bluntly.
He continued by saying that reporters should regularly undergo tests to make sure they have sufficient knowledge of the topics they cover.
“I just think everybody should like, take tests, on knowledge of what they’re doing. I think all coaches should take tests so they understand refereeing and I think all referees should take a test so they understand coaching. And I think all journalists should have to take a basketball quiz or test. Anybody that tweets, they should have to be able to do it and they say something so moronic as that? Then they should have to have a probationary status where they can’t tweet for three months. I think it’ll help society. Just try to knock out the fools so they don’t have to meet at the local Wal-Mart and say things that don’t make any sense.”
Painter Was Right, Edey Is More Than His Size
Yeesh, somebody’s amped up!
To Painter’s point, there are those who mindlessly criticize Edey because he’s big and plays at a slower pace than most people in today’s game (like Dan Le Batard). I find it hard to believe that a guy who will likely win his second consecutive Naismith College Player of the Year is only good because of his size. Heck, he’s averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per game this year, he’s a solid player.
Now, would I take Edey as my primary huge man if I had been assembling a crew from at this time’s gamers? In all honesty, no. I’d take Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner or UConn’s Donovan Clingan. They may not get Edey’s stats, however they’re extra cellular within the publish than he’s and play equally good protection.
That being mentioned, Edey remains to be an imposing menace who boasts way more upside than simply being tall, like him or not. On this case, Painter had each proper to come back to his participant’s assist and his protection of his participant was utterly justified.