Edey And Purdue Will Advance Against Tennessee

Tennessee vs. Purdue, 2:20 ET

Happy Easter to all of you Outkick readers, I hope that today is a great day of relaxation, celebration, and fun for all of those that do and do not celebrate the holiday. Speaking of religious days, Friday was Good Friday, and it was indeed a good Friday for readers as we went 3-1 a day after going 1-3. We are down to the last games of the Elite 8 and have some very strong matchups to enjoy. With a trip to the Final Four on the line we have the Tennessee Volunteers taking on the Purdue Boilermakers.

Tennessee has surprised some, but not this writer. I expected them to have a good tournament and make a nice run here. They've done just that and now have the tall task of taking on Zach Edey and Purdue. Tennessee comes into the game after beating Creighton in their last game. The game against the Bluejays saw them win 82-75, but it really didn't feel all that close much of the game. Tennessee was losing at halftime, yes, but they built a 16-point lead with 14 minutes remaining in the game. There was a moment of concern as Creighton got the game to just three points with about five minutes left, but Tennessee never relinquished the lead. As the time was winding down, they were able to convert enough of their free throws, and get enough defensive stops, to coast to the seven-point win. Dalton Knect once again was the shining star for the Volunteers, putting in 24 points. He will probably be the best scorer on the floor once again against Purdue. In this game, they will need him to get hot because the deeper they go into the tournament, the more opponents will throw different schemes to make the rest of the Volunteers beat them. The biggest question is how are they going to stop Edey. The Volunteers only have one guy over 6'9" on the team that sees regular playing time. 

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 23: Dalton Knecht #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers dunks the ball against Dylan Disu #1 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 23, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

I've said this all year long, Purdue wins games with their big man getting doubled and kicking the ball out to guards. If the guards play well enough that results in a victory. If they don't they will lose games. It simplifies the overall success of the Boilermakers, and probably discredits their 32-4 record this year, but it is also a reality of the situation. Edey is likely to get his and probably will remain the best player on the floor overall. He was able to pour in 27 points and grab 14 rebounds against Gonzaga, a team that I felt was better equipped to deal with Purdue than Tennessee is. To this point in the tournament, Purdue has looked like a legitimate contender. Last year was an early exit, but this year they won their first game by 28, the second game by 39, and the third game by 12. The only other team doing that so far is UConn. Purdue does have guards that can keep up with Knect and make life difficult for him. However, that doesn't mean they will completely shut him down. Tenneessee is actually a fairly athletic team and will likely use a team rebounding approach to try and win this one. 

In order for Tennessee to pull off the upset, they need to get Edey in foul trouble, or they likely need to speed the game up as much as possible. Edey is talented, but he doesn't move very well. If the Volunteers can get in transition and beat him down the floor, it might open things up. It is always harder to guard a team without your set defense. These two played earlier in the year and Tennessee lost the game by four points. They are essentially getting the same treatment here. I just don't see them winning this game. Purdue is playing far to well right now to go against them. I'll back Purdue in this one as they make it to the Final Four covering the 3.5 in this game. 

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