DETROIT: With 42 seconds remaining, Zach Edey airballed a free shot, causing a jittery vibe to permeate Little Caesars Arena. With their enormous following, Purdue was on the verge of making their first Final Four appearance since 1980, but Tennessee was able to advance thanks to Edey’s back-to-back missed line jumps.
Dalton Knecht had an opportunity to cut Purdue’s five-point lead to just one possession, so it was difficult to blame the Boilermakers supporters for feeling anxious. For Tennessee, Knecht had already scored 37 points, putting the Volunteers within a shot of making it to their first-ever Final Four.
The two All-Americans then happened to cross paths close to the rim. Edey transformed Purdue’s tension into victory in a redemptive sequence that emphasized a restorative season. Knecht attempted a layup, but the 7-foot-4 superstar smacked it down without it going out of bounds.
Mason Gillis, a forward for Purdue, grabbed the rebound and started a hot potato game as the Boilermakers used up crucial seconds before Tennessee could foul. The performance put an end to any remaining discussion about who the finest college basketball player is, as Purdue won 72-66 to advance to the Elite Eight.
With an unending stream of offensive explosions, Knecht won SEC Player of the Year this season, and he made a strong argument to prevent Edey from winning national player of the year again.
Knecht’s spectacular performance against the Boilermakers on Sunday may have put him back in the picture if the Volunteers could have come up with a response for Edey. However, Edey’s time has come, and his performance against Tennessee solidified his status as not just the finest player of the last two years but also among the greatest college basketball players ever.
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