Purdue's Zach Edey Cuts Down Elite 8 Nets Standing Flat-Footed On Ground

Zach Edey didn’t need any help reaching up to cut down the nets Sunday afternoon.

The Purdue Boilermakers center had himself a day in the Elite 8, with a mind-boggling 40 points (a career high), 16 rebounds and one crucial block in the final minute of play. Thanks in large part to his efforts, the Boilermakers defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 72-66 for their first Final Four berth since 1980.

For the first time in 42 years, everyone on Purdue got to help cut down a net for winning their regional tournament. On these types of occasions, it's customary for the teams to grab a ladder. After all, most people need a little extra boost to get to the rim, they can’t just stand on the ground flat-footed.

But Edey is not like most people.

Edey Was Able To Cut Down The Net Without Any Help

This guy stands at an imposing 7’4", which is in large part why he is such a matchup nightmare for everyone else in the country. With that kind of frame (and corresponding wingspan), he can do things you, I, and millions of others can’t do.

He cut down a portion of the net while standing on the ground. 

But Edey didn’t just keep it for himself. The favorite to win the National Player of the Year award took a portion of the twine and gave it to Gene Keady, a Boilermakers legend.

Keady was the program’s last coach before current skipper Matt Painter. Keady won 512 games as Purdue’s head coach from 1980-2005, but never got to the Final Four. As such, Edey wanted to make sure that he was able to share in the milestone moment with the program as well.

Say what you want about whether you like Edey as a play. This was a classy move by one of the game’s premier stars.

And he didn’t need a ladder to help him out.