For most teams, dealing with a 7-foot-4, 300-pound force of nature like Zach Edey is unfamiliar territory.
Gonzaga knows Zach Edey well, having faced him twice in the past 16 months.
The Zags have lost to Edey and Purdue by double digits in both of their previous encounters.
Gonzaga will make their third attempt at defeating Edey in the Sweet 16, with the winner advancing to a potential Final Four match against Creighton or Tennessee.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few mentioned that they have experienced playing against a special player like Edey, which gives them an advantage in preparing for the upcoming game.
In their previous meetings, Edey scored 23 points and seven rebounds in 2022, and 25 points and 14 rebounds in the start of the current season. Both games resulted in Purdue's victories by significant margins.
Purdue coach Matt Painter stated that having a reference point from the previous games means very little in the upcoming match.
Edey, a first-team AP All-American, has excelled as a true post player, averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks this year. His improved defensive agility adds to his skill set.
Purdue guard Braden Smith mentioned Edey's hard work in improving his skills over the summer.
Edey's improvement contributes to the overall story of the Boilermakers' progression.
Last March, Purdue experienced a setback as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, adding to the narrative of their underachievements in college basketball.
Purdue's history as a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament includes limited success, with only one Elite Eight appearance in the last 19 seasons under Coach Painter.
Painter emphasized the importance of honest self-evaluation to make improvements, acknowledging that self-correction is essential for the team's development.
Gonzaga, appearing in the Sweet 16 for the ninth consecutive year, made mid-season adjustments to address their performance.
Gonzaga made significant changes, including implementing a larger lineup, to turn their season around after a challenging period in January.
Gregg detailed the strategy to defend Edey, stressing the balance between physicality and avoiding excessive fouls when guarding him.
In the later game on Friday, Tennessee (26-8) and Creighton (25-9) are both aiming for their first trip to the Final Four.
Both teams are led by players who took advantage of the transfer portal.
Dalton Knecht, from Henderson, Colo., spent his first four college seasons in his home state — first at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, then at Northern Colorado in Greeley.
“There are various ways to join one of the top programs in the nation,” Knecht said. “I think it just shows that you don’t have to be the highest-rated kid.”
Baylor Scheierman, from Aurora, Neb., left home to accept the only Division I offer he had at South Dakota State. He spent three years with the Jackrabbits before deciding to move two years ago to join the Bluejays.
It worked out, both for the players and their teams.
Like Edey, the 6-6 Knecht earned a spot on the AP All-America team. Knecht averaged 21-plus points in the regular season and SEC Tournament.
The 6-7 Scheierman, the first Division I men’s player in history to have at least 2,000 career points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 3-point baskets, is a third-team All-America player.
“They’re both great stories of persistence and tremendous work ethic,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.
DETROIT — For most teams, facing a 7-foot-4, 300-pound force of nature like Zach Edey is uncharted territory.
