Takeaways/Wrap Video--Purdue UConn
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Our post-game analysis following Purdue’s title-game loss to Connecticut Monday night day at State Farm Arena.
ON UCONN’S DOMINANCE
Credit Connecticut. Wow.
Purdue played perhaps the strongest non-conference schedule in college basketball, beat Tennessee twice, beat Gonzaga twice, beat Marquette, beat Arizona and beat Illinois twice and ran roughshod over the Big Ten and no one did this to the Boilermakers.
Many have tried to make Purdue one-dimensional. None succeeded, until tonight. Connecticut completely took away the three-pointer from one of the best shooting teams in America and made Zach Edey put 37 on one of the best defensive bigs in America and it still wasn’t nearly enough.
And no one has worked over Purdue on the glass the way UConn did, beating Purdue at its own game in that regard. The Huskies got 14 offensive rebounds.
Just have to give credit to a generationally great team at both ends of the floor.
There’s no shame in Purdue losing, period, but certainly no shame in losing to that.
THIS MAY BE A BEGINNING, NOT AN END
Assuming everyone comes back who can, and there’s no reason to think they won’t, then Purdue has a fine corps returning and a foundation for excellent teams to come.
Purdue may not play for a national title next season, but it’ll have a chance to do some damage, and now there’s a standard laid down for what it takes to get here.
That must resonate with those returning.
This team was really focused, really selfless and really good together.
ZACH EDEY: LEGEND
UConn made Edey carry Purdue, knowing Donovan Clingan would make it difficult.
Yes, some of Edey’s scoring was cosmetic late in the game, but him getting 37 in a national game — two games after getting 40 to get Purdue to Arizona in the first place is stuff of legend.
Edey’s numbers will endure for years, but more so, Purdue should thank him for his will, for his relentlessness, for his leadership and for the higher level he himself brought this program to. He set such an incredible standard that needs to endure.
His legacy at Purdue will be written not just by what he did, but what happens after he left.
