Purdue Coach Matt Painter Eviscerates Critics Of Zach Edey: 'They Just Shouldn’t Cover Basketball'

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter has had enough of Zach Edey's critics.

After routing the Utah State Aggies 106-67 in the Round of 32, one reporter asked the head coach about his seven-foot center. Edey finished the game with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks, and posted a double-double in the first half.

Yet some people in the media seem convinced that the only reason is good at basketball is because of his enormous frame. When the reporter asked for Painter’s perspective on the notion, he lambasted everyone who believes Edey lacks skill.

"Yeah, they just shouldn’t cover basketball," Painter said rather bluntly.

He continued by saying that reporters should regularly undergo tests to make sure they have sufficient knowledge of the topics they cover.

"I just think everybody should like, take tests, on knowledge of what they’re doing. I think all coaches should take tests so they understand refereeing and I think all referees should take a test so they understand coaching. And I think all journalists should have to take a basketball quiz or test. Anybody that tweets, they should have to be able to do it and they say something so moronic as that? Then they should have to have a probationary status where they can’t tweet for three months. I think it’ll help society. Just try to knock out the fools so they don’t have to meet at the local Wal-Mart and say things that don’t make any sense."

Painter Was Right, Edey Is More Than His Size

Yeesh, somebody’s amped up!

To Painter’s point, there are those who mindlessly criticize Edey because he’s big and plays at a slower pace than most people in today’s game (like Dan Le Batard). I find it hard to believe that a guy who will likely win his second consecutive Naismith College Player of the Year is only good because of his size. Heck, he’s averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per game this year, he’s a solid player.

Zach Edey throws down a dunk against Utah State. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Now, would I take Edey as my number one big man if I were assembling a team from today’s players? In all honesty, no. I would take Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner or UConn’s Donovan Clingan. They might not get Edey’s stats, but they’re more mobile in the post than he is and play equally good defense.

That being said, Edey is still an imposing threat who boasts far more upside than just being tall, like him or not. In this case, Painter had every right to come to his player’s aid and his defense of his player was completely justified.