GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)-- Zach Edey kept a stoic expression as he came down the actions from the court to leave UConn's champion celebration behind.
It was the start of a long walk, and Edey seemed determined to keep his composure even as there were glances of the feelings bristling within. He quickly put both hands on his head as he strolled, then rapidly put them back at his sides. He made a left turn, then clutched the front of his jersey with his ideal fist as he drew closer to the locker-room doors.
As soon as he stepped through them, he pulled the front of his jersey over his face.
" Obviously, everybody reveals grief in a various method," Edey said inside.
And all he might do was grieve the end of Purdue's push for never-before-reached heights. His space-eating presence, his back-to-the-basket offense, his capability to use length to score over defenders-- he utilized everything to bring the Boilermakers within 40 minutes of their first nationwide title and a program record for wins. The 7-foot-4 star and two-time Associated Press national gamer of the year just couldn't push them past a dominant UConn group on its own march to history.
Edey finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in Monday night's 75-60 loss to the Huskies, who became the first repeat guys's champ in 17 years. He fought the whole way, consisting of in a private match versus a strong post presence in the 7-2 Donovan Clingan.
He also largely fought this one solitarily, with only Braden Smith (12 points) reaching double figures to set the stage for that mournful postgame walk that closed an excellent four-year profession.
His teammates were all set to pay tribute, too.
" He's a legend," guard Fletcher Loyer stated. "He's achieved what he's accomplished due to the fact that of the work he's put in. He wasn't handed anything. Mentally he's really strong to be in the spotlight and have this much pressure and carry out the way he's performed.
" Many, lots of, many people might never ever do that."
Edey got in the video game averaging a national-best 24.9 points while ranking 2nd with 12.2 rebounds, and he likewise ranked amongst the nationwide leaders in shooting portion (.625) and blocks (2.16 ). He set the program's profession scoring record. And his luster had assisted Purdue recover from ending up being just the 2nd No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in 2015 (Fairleigh Dickinson) and reach its first NCAA title game given that its only other appearance: a loss to John Wooden and UCLA in 1969.
Edey left to a fast start Monday against Clingan, making 7 of 9 shots for 16 points in the first 14 minutes. He likewise showed a touch of feistiness with UConn's Dan Hurley at one point, trading words with the coach after he had actually come toward the middle of the court to complain throughout a timeout about a lack of an illegal-screen call on Edey.
" That's simply in between us," Edey said of the exchange.
Clingan and backup Samson Johnson began having more success holding their ground versus Edey's selection of hook shots and turnarounds, and Edey unbelievably went without a basket from the 5:47 mark of the first half until getting a rating on a goaltending call with 13:39 left, with a run of 6 straight misses in between.
By then, with Purdue getting little production from its backcourt, the Boilermakers had discovered themselves down 47-38 and combating uphill against a team that appeared like the title favorite from the moment the brackets were announced.
" When you play against a team like UConn, you've got to be perfect for 40 minutes," Edey said. "And there were some stretches where I wasn't perfect."
Coach Matt Painter had actually seen enough with 36 seconds left, pulling Edey a last time with UConn up 15. He provided a firm pat on the back to Edey, who strolled to the bench to acknowledge the rest of his teammates.
When Edey left the court, he stopped to rapidly shake a couple of hands and paused long enough to provide a soft high-five to a Purdue fan in the stands above him. He kept that stoic appearance, even as Loyer said: "I'm sure in his head he desired to break something actually bad."
" For me, I'm always trying to represent Purdue the proper way clearly," Edey said. "You never wish to decrease your head. You want to keep your head high no matter what when you have the Purdue jersey on."
And as the questions turned to his legacy, Edey had a basic idea.
" You can state anything you want about my video game, you can say anything you want about how I play," he said. "But I don't think you could ever state I never ever stepped on the court and didn't provide it my 100%.
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