What Purdue's Zach Edey Said During His Final Four Media Availability

Zach Edey has helped lead Purdue back to the Final Four for the first time in 44 years. Here's what the 7-foot-4 center and two-time AP National Player of the Year had to say during his media availability on Friday.

Dustin Schutte | Apr 5, 2024

Apr 5, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) during the AP player of / Patrick Breen-Arizona Republic

Zach Edey has been a the engine that has helped Purdue run over the past two seasons. This year, the 7-foot-4 center got the Boilermakers back to the Final Four and is hoping to bring a national title back to West Lafayette.

Friday, Edey met with reporters after winning his second straight National Player of the Year honor. Here's everything the Purdue big man had to say during his Final Four media availability.

On Edey winning the AP National Player of the Year award ...

I don't really have anything planned. It's an honor to receive this and join that elite club of people. It's just been a heck of a season for not just me but my team. I'm so proud of everything that we've accomplished at this point. Obviously we have still more games left to play.

With the amount of stuff that we've gone through, the amount of stuff we've heard, to be able to bounce back and accomplish things we have up to this point, it's been my favorite year I've ever lived in. Just the experiences, going through it with the guys, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I wouldn't trade the group of people I went through it with for anything.

On if Edey appreciates the honor being named Player of the Year ...

Yeah, I always kind of think these awards are something that I'll look back on in the future and really appreciate, like, let it all sink in in the future. Right now it kind of hasn't.

I'm living kind of in the moment. This is a big award, this is a big deal for me, but I have bigger things on the horizon here that demand my attention.

Like last year, I wasn't playing at this time. This year I definitely will play my position this year more. Just being appreciative of kind of everything that's happened for me and trying to stay in the moment. Like I said, in the future I think that's when it will sink in and I'll be able to appreciate all this.

On Edey giving a piece of the Final Four net to Gene Keady ...

Well, it meant to me, like, just paying it back. The ones that came before you, you always have to remember, not overlook. I think that's one of the great things about Purdue, when you commit to Purdue, when you play for Purdue, you're in the Purdue family for life. You see people on the sideline, like Robbie is crying, Coach K is having a great time, his wife is crying. In the family section, there's people that I've known forever that are, like, crying. I think that's the one great thing about Purdue, we really pay respect to people that came before us, we acknowledge them. We don't overlook that.

I think just being able to give him kind of like a piece of that net, being able to have him be a part of that, make sure he knows, like, we know he's a part of this, it was a great feeling.

On if Edey has talked to Purdue football legend Drew Brees ...

No, I've never really talked to him personally. Obviously I know about him. He's one of the greatest Purdue athletes ever. No, I haven't really talked to him too much.

On what Edey has proven to the basketball world ...

Well, I don't think I have to prove anything. I think what I've done, like, speaks for itself. I think the people that can't appreciate some of the stuff, I don't really pay them any mind anymore. Obviously the first few years, it would kind of get me upset, off balance, whatever. I've been dealing with it for so long, it's not anything crazy.

It just makes me appreciate the people that do care about me more: my teammates, my family, the Purdue fans. I'm signing stuff after every game because I know they appreciate me. I value that. Like, I know it sounds kind of corny, but I value the people that value me. I'm going to focus on them.

On what motivates Edey before a basketball game ...

Yeah, for sure. I know I play better when I, like, get angry. Obviously I'm trying to get angry before a game. Everyone has their own thing, whether it's listening to music, stretching. It's just my little thing.

On getting into peak physical condition as a basketball player ...

Yeah, I think a big thing kind of comes with having a big role on the team is you have to play a lot of minutes. I'm never going to complain about playing minutes. I'm going to try to get myself in the best shape possible so I can play as many minutes. I want to be on the floor at all times. I'm never going to ask for a stop. I think that's kind of the mentality of our whole team.