Watch: Purdue's Zach Edey calls out Tennessee HC

Purdue center Zach Edey Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Purdue star Zach Edey calls out Tennessee HC Rick Barnes

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/1/24

Zach Edey is Final Four bound and he has receipts for those who doubted him, including Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.

After No. 1 Purdue downed Barnes' No. 2-seeded Volunteers to advance to its first Final Four since 1980, Edey called out the head coach, among others.

"There were so many coaches that looked over me, like you could name a program I can name a coach that looked over me," Edey told reporters. "At Tennessee, Rick Barnes is a great coach, but he was at a bunch of our practices, looked over me."

“There are so many coaches that looked over me… At Tennessee, Rick Barnes is a great coach… but looked over me”

Zach Edey on his journey to the #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/RqOAqwIwUb
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 31, 2024

Edey didn't draw much attention in high school – even at 7-foot-2 – while playing for the heralded IMG Academy. His focus on other sports and slim basketball experience kept schools away.

Brian Nash, IMG's director of basketball, told On3.com that Edey was an "afterthought" when college scouts and coaches visited.

"He wasn't the main reason they were coming here," Nash said. "If they came to practice and they saw him, they would say, 'Tell me about this kid.' They weren't knocking the door down."

Edey is having the last laugh and the ride isn't over yet.

On Sunday, he continued to be an unstoppable tournament force against Tennessee, scoring a game-high 40 points (13-of-21) to go along with 16 rebounds. Now, he and the Boilermakers are only one step away from playing for the national championship.

To his credit, Edey is relishing his redemption tour.

"It's kind of been the story of my life. People have doubted me," Edey said. People have looked past me and – can't do that anymore."

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