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Iowa at Purdue: 2021-22 key storylines for Big Ten matchup opener

By Trevor Sinodhinos

Jan 30, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) dunks the ball during the first half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) dunks the ball during the first half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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Iowa Hawkeyes forward Keegan Murray Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Hawkeyes forward Keegan Murray Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Keegan Murray versus Zach Edey

A possibly hot take is that there are no two bigger surprises in NCAA basketball than the two players who will be matching up versus each other on Friday when the Iowa Hawkeyes travel to take on the Purdue Boilermakers.

For Purdue, Zach Edey’s production – although it is outstanding – is not the biggest surprise of the season. The biggest surprise is that the 7’4 center has replaced 2020-21 All Big-Ten First Team honoree Trevion Williams as the Boilermakers’ starting post player. Williams averaged just under 16 points per conference game last season and he carried that momentum into the 2021-22 season by being included among the 50 players on the Wooden Award preseason list.

The move by Head Coach Matt Painter has paid dividends as Edey has averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while Williams has averaged 13 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. While Edey may lead Williams 6-0 in the number of starts, the playing time is virtually equal.

This split in playing time is why Iowa center Keegan Murray is not going up strictly against Edey. Despite being 6’8 and playing alongside 6’9 Filip Rebraca, Murray matches up with the opposing center as was demonstrated in the Hawkeyes one-point victory Monday night versus Virginia. Keegan’s defensive responsibility was to guard 7’0 Francisco Caffaro.

Offensively, Murray is having a career season as he leads the Hawkeyes with a 24.6 scoring average. The 2020-21 Big Ten All-Freshman member is averaging over 24 points per game as he has been able to draw the bigger defender away from the basket. With an improved jump shot and being more of a threat from beyond the arc – as Murray is just six made attempts from tieing last year’s total – the battle of Edey on the inside and Murray on the outside, will be an interesting chess match.

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