Edey Named a Semifinalist for Naismith DPOY
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Given annually to America’s top defensive player, Zach Edey has been named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award semifinalist, the organization announced today.
Already a front-runner for National Player of the Year awards, Edey is now a semifinalist for the top defensive honor as well. Edey is one of 10 players named to the watch list.
Defensively, Edey has led a Boilermaker defense that ranks in the nation’s top 20 in defensive efficiency (19th), scoring defense (18th) and rebound margin (1st). The Boilermakers are allowing 62.2 points per game, the lowest average for an opponent since the 2010-11 season (61.1 points per game), and just three opponents have surpassed 70 points this year. Foes are shooting just 41.6 percent from the field, but even more impressive, opponents are averaging just 10.5 free throw attempts per game, the lowest mark for a team nationally in the last 15 years.
Edey leads the country in rebounds per game and total rebounds, is 11th in blocks per game and defensive rebounds per game and 15th in total blocks.
Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, is considered the front-runner for the National Player of the Year awards. He currently averages 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.5 assists per game while shooting over 60.0 percent from the field and nearly 75.0 percent from the free throw line – ranking fifth nationally in scoring and first in rebounds. He also leads the country with 22 double-doubles.
Edey currently leads the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, and is on pace to become the second player in Big Ten history and the first since Ohio State’s Gary Bradds in 1963-64 to lead the league in all three categories.
The No. 5-ranked Boilermakers travel to Wisconsin on Thursday night, beginning at 9 p.m. ET, on FS1.