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After enduring a physical assault from Wisconsin in his home finale, the 7-foot-4 Purdue senior was rewarded unexpectedly when his jersey number, 15, was placed to the Mackey Arena rafters.
After overcoming a left leg injury to play, Edey finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, making history as the first player in the Big Ten to reach 2,200 points and 1,200 rebounds in a career. On Sunday, Edey led No. 3 Purdue over Wisconsin 78-70. Then, to his astonishment, the Boilermakers retired his jersey.
Edey remarked, “It’s really cool,” before talking about the feelings of the day. It was the first time I had ever had all of my Toronto-based pals together. I’m finishing out my Mackey game.”
And as five-time winners Edey and Purdue (28-3, 17-3) had something to rejoice about.
After that, Edey and his mother walked arm in arm before he spoke to the assembly.
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Coach Matt Painter gave ceremonial ball to point guard Braden Smith prior to the game in recognition of him shattering the nearly half-century-old Purdue record for most assists in a single season. A short while later, Purdue’s pep band honored Edey, a Toronto native, with a performance of “O Canada” on senior day.
“I’ve been trying to get them to do that for four years,” laughed Edey.
In under five minutes, Edey grabbed the three rebounds he needed to get to 1,200. The six-member senior class of the Boilermakers needed a little more time to equal Indiana’s record of 59 conference victories over a four-year span. Indiana conducted it between 1972 and 1976.
The Boilermakers won a second straight Big Ten title by at least three games, led by Fletcher Loyer’s 15 points and Smith’s 10 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds.
The Badgers’ John Blackwell scored eighteen points (19-12, 11-9). In addition to AJ Storr’s 17 points, Tyler Wahl contributed 10 rebounds and 17 points.
The offensive production of the Badgers was commendable, according to head coach Greg Gard. “That team is formidable. I would argue that his presence alone does not provide a steady diet of things in the paint.”
Purdue fouled Edey eleven times in an attempt to force him to give up near the basket. And with Purdue ahead 17–9 and Edey hobbling slowly to the bench with what appeared to be a left leg injury, it appeared like his time there might not last long. Due to foul problems, he was benched for the remainder of the half.
A non-contact play later, Loyer’s four-point play seemed to injure Smith’s right ankle, giving Purdue a 40-26 advantage. After leaving the locker room, he came back 75 seconds later, with the Boilermakers leading 44–33 at the break.
In the second half, the Badgers twice closed the gap to four points, but Edey and Loyer seemed to be able to stay on the floor without any issues. However, the Boilermakers responded each time, with 3-pointers from Caleb Furst and Smith, respectively.
When asked about Edey, forward Mason Gillis responded, “You can tell he loves the game, you can tell he respects the game.” “Those nearby are aware of his actions. He watches out for everyone. In the gym, he’s a great guy. There isn’t a greater national player of the year, in my opinion.”
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Drake and Tucker DeVries defeat Indiana State to win the MVC tournament title.
Drake defeats Indiana State 84-80 to win the Missouri Valley Conference title behind 27 points from Tucker DeVries. (1:47)
The Associated Press
10. Mar. 2024, 5:32 p.m. ET
Louis — Despite blowing an 18-point lead in the final ten minutes, Drake defeated Indiana State 84-80 on Sunday to defend its Missouri Valley Conference tournament title and earn an NCAA bid. Tucker DeVries scored 27 points, while Darnell Brodie scored four of his 17 points in the final 67 seconds.
The second-seeded Bulldogs (28-7) equaled the school mark for wins and made their sixth trip to the NCAA tournament with a 10-2 surge in the final 3 1/2 minutes.
Drake Dancing
• Seventh trip to the NCAA tournament (two consecutive and three of the previous four years).
• Third conference tournament title (including second consecutive)
• 6-6 overall in the NCAA tournament (last victory came against Wichita State in the First Four in 2021; had three straight Elite Eight visits from 1969 to 71).
· First MVC team since Creighton in 2002–03 to win titles back-to-back as a 2 seed against a 1 seed
• Tucker DeVries: Along with Zach Edey, Max Abmas, Drew Pember, and Marques Warrick, he is one of five players with 1,800 points since the 2021–22 season and is fifth in Division I scoring (21.8 PPG).
— ESPN Information & Stats
Midway through the second half, DeVries, the two-time MVC Player of the Year, made a 3-pointer to give the team a 67-49 lead. With 4:08 remaining, Isaiah Swope led the charge again, making back-to-back 3-pointers and finishing a four-point play to give the top-seeded Sycamores their first lead since 2-0, 73-72.
With 3:36 remaining, Swope hit three free throws to give the team a 76-74 lead. However, DeVries knotted the score, and with two minutes remaining, Conor Enright sank a 3-pointer. With four more points from Brodie, the score was 83-78.
Drake coach Darian DeVries praised Indiana State for “never giving up, never giving up.” “I think our guys were incredibly determined to make the plays we needed to make when all the momentum was lost there. I’m really happy for them.”
For Drake, Atin Wright scored 19 points, making 11 of his 18 3-point attempts (61%) and 31 of his 60 total points. The Bulldogs, who won the championship the previous year, added ten new players.
“There’s been a lot of hard times throughout this year but the resilience of this group, it’s been a lot of fun,” Tucker DeVries stated. “With ten new guys, there’s no better way to accomplish it. We still had a long way to go when you go back to June. Reaching this stage is quite exceptional.”
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In the 24-5 rally, Jayson Kent scored six points. For the Sycamores (28-6), who were attempting to make their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2011, Kent finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. In the second half, Swope scored all nineteen of his points. Julian Larry added 10, Robbie Avila added 15, and Ryan Conwell added 13.
Indiana State made 24 of 35 two-pointers and 7 of 24 long-range shots.
The Bulldogs made their first seven 3-pointers, with Wright’s final attempt coming at 7:36 in the first half to give the team a 37-23 advantage. Cornwell led the Sycamores with seven straight points, but Devries scored in the final minute to give the team a 45–32 lead at the half.
