Charles Barkley Perfectly Explained Why NC State's DJ Burns Could Have 'Tough Time' vs. Purdue in Final Four

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DJ Burns, the undisputed hero of NC State’s Elite Eight win over Duke, will meet his match on Saturday.

Last weekend, the 23-year-old Burns became an overnight sensation and arguably the new face of March Madness following his underdog heroics in a 76–64 upset against the Blue Devils. The 6’9’’, 275-pound big man scored 29 points and outmuscled his opponents in the paint to help NC State reach its first Final Four since the 1982-83 season, but his next foe is a Goliath like no other: Purdue’s Zach Edey.

NBA analyst Charles Barkley recently gave a compelling argument for why Burns, who has averaged 18.3 points and 5.0 rebounds this postseason, may not be able to throw his weight around against the Boilermakers.

“I think [Burns] is going to have a tough time against Zach Edey,” Barkley said on The Dan Patrick Show. “If you go back and look at those games, you see how they bump those little skinny a-- guys from Duke? He bumps Zach Edey, Zach Edey ain’t gonna move… That little thing he was doing against Duke is not going to work against Zach.”

DJ Burns vs. Zach Edey... Charles Barkley tells us how he thinks the two will matchup up against each other.

"I think DJ is going to have a tough time against Zach Edey." pic.twitter.com/ncNtIeJ0CD

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) April 3, 2024

This year, Burns has shot 50% or better from the field in every postseason game. That could change in the Final Four when he faces the 7’4’’, 300-pound Edey, who appears likely to win his second consecutive National Player of the Year award.

The Purdue center ranked first in scoring (25.0) and third in rebounding (12.2) this season, and he’s currently averaging 30.0 points and 16.3 boards in four NCAA tournament games.

Edey and No. 1 seed Purdue will take on 11th-seeded NC State in Glendale, Ariz., on Saturday.