Three Boilermakers to simmer on Saturday for Indiana basketball

1. Zach Edey – Junior Center – #15

2022-23 stats: 22 GP, 31.3 MIN, 22.0 PPG, 13.0 REB, 1.4 AST, 2.1 BLK, 61.7 FG%, 73.2 FT%

As much as it hurts to say this, Zach Edey is easily the frontrunner for player of the year in college hoops. Watching his games, I don’t see it at all, but his statistics tell the story of his remarkable season thus far.

Edey has posted 18 double-doubles in 22 games played this season, 13 20+ point performances, five 30-point games, and seven 15-rebound games. Utter domination from the 7-foot-4 big man from Canada.

Though he showed flashes of what he’s capable of in big minutes last season as a sophomore, Edey averaged 11.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks on 10-for-17 shooting from the field against the Hoosiers.

Edey could hardly play 25+ minutes in a game last season (only three such games). Now, the big man averages over 30 minutes per game and has played 25+ minutes in 20 of 22 games played this season.

Either double-team in the post or let the Hoosiers’ big men try to handle him. One thing Coach Woodson has to do is make him work defensively and put him in ball screens and let Jalen Hood-Schifino attack him off the dribble.