NCAA Basketball: Top 10 rankings for 2022-23 National Player of the Year
1. Zach Edey – Purdue Boilermakers
2022-23 stats: 21.3 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 1.3 apg
Last season, Edey had to split minutes with All-Big Ten center, Trevion Williams at the five-spot. He had the position to himself but there were questions as to whether the 7’4 big could play around 25+ mpg, which would be needed to keep a rebuilt Purdue squad competitive.
So far, that has worked out better than anyone expected. He’s first in the Big Ten in both points and rebounds (second nationally), while also averaging a couple of blocks per game as well. Edey is playing at 31 mpg, including a whopping 43 minutes in an overtime victory at Nebraska.
The big man has been in double figures every game, including 30 points and 13 rebounds recently against Penn State, along with 23 points and seven rebounds in a win over Gonzaga. Edey leads the country with 13 double-doubles and is shooting 63% from the field.
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What separates Edey from the rest of the group is that up until Monday’s release of the poll, has been ranked No. 1 for the past month. They’ve been the best team in the country and he’s been the best player in the country and assuming he continues putting up huge numbers in Big Ten play, will be the player to beat for National Player of the Year.