Purdue Basketball: Zach Edey silencing doubters with all-time first half in title game

To beat a team like UConn, you need to have a generational talent it seems. Zach Edey has been playing like one in the first half.

To the surprise of no one, Zach Edey was named the National Player of the Year for the second straight season. It felt like a forgone conclusion at the beginning of the season, as he dominated the Maui Invitational against multiple top-10 teams to be ranked at No. 1 in the polls.

Edey didn't slow down there, going on to average 24.9 ppg and 12.2 rpg, earning a ton more conference and national awards. He's been the best player in the NCAA Tournament so far, including a 40-point and 16-rebound game to beat Tennessee in the Elite 8.

Yet Edey's approval rating isn't at 100% in the national or even casual viewership. There are those who don't like his and Purdue's style of play, complain about the lack of fouls called involving him, or think that he's only good "because he's 7'4".

We'll he's had his toughest challenge yet in the national title game against UConn, who has Donovan Clingan. When healthy, he's one of the best interior defenders in the country and at 7'2, can match up against Edey.

Yet in the first half, that hasn't happened at all. Edey has singlehandedly kept Purdue in the game against the Huskies in the first half, scoring 16 points. That includes some big-time plays inside and dunks, as well as some defensive plays.

Will Edey be able to carry Purdue to an upset in the second half, or is UConn just too good to be beaten at this point? We got 20 more minutes to find out. But either way, one thing is clear, Zach Edey is a generational player whose greatness simply shouldn't be questioned.