Purdue's Zach Edey: 'I've Just Got to Play Better' After National Title Loss to UConn

Despite dropping 37 points and 10 rebounds in Monday's NCAA Tournament national championship against UConn, Purdue star big man Zach Edey wishes he did more.

"I've just got to play better," he said after the Boilermakers' 75-60 loss, per ESPN's Myron Medcalf. "This is one of those games where I can't go through stretches where I'm not effective. I had a few of those stretches today and that was the game."

The Huskies became the first team since Florida in 2006 and 2007 to win back-to-back national championships. While Edey is ending his collegiate career without a national title on his resume, Purdue head coach Matt Painter believes his legacy is still cemented as one of the greatest players in program history.

"When you look at his numbers against the greats, there is no question he's in the conversation," Painter said. "But he's also the winningest player at Purdue. We won our league in back-to-back years [2023, 2024] by multiple games. It's the first time that's happened in the Big Ten since I was in kindergarten. We got to the [national] championship game after having a disappointing loss [in last year's NCAA tournament]. He got to a Sweet 16. He went to four [NCAA] tournaments. I think that's always what kind of separates everybody."

Edey averaged 29.5 points during this year's NCAA Tournament, the second-highest average ever, per ESPN. He is on the verge of becoming the first male player to win back-to-back Wooden Awards since Ralph Sampson in 1982 and 1983.

While Edey believes he could've done more against UConn, his teammates paid him respect for his incredible effort throughout his career at Purdue.

"He's a generational player," Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis said. "I don't know if there will ever be another 7-foot-4 guy that dominates the way he does. I think Purdue should not take for granted what they were able to watch for four years. His development was for the fans. For Purdue. He wanted to bring success and raise the Purdue name. He just wanted to win and fight. And that's what we did."