Zach Edey vs. Donovan Clingan: How duel of Purdue and UConn's 7-footers will determine national championship

A breakdown of what to expect Monday as two of the biggest stars clash in the NCAA Tournament championship game

By Kyle Boone Apr 8, 2024 at 11:20 am ET• 4 min read

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- College basketball's biggest game of the season will be played Monday night inside State Farm Stadium. So, it's only fitting that on the sport's biggest stage with the biggest possible stakes, the head-to-head matchup between the two biggest players -- Zach Edey of Purdue and Donovan Clingan of UConn -- will likely determine which team cuts down the nets in the NCAA Tournament championship game.

Edey, a towering 7-foot-4, 300-pound center, has been as close to unstoppable as one can get in this year's NCAA Tournament. The two-time Naismith Player of the Year is averaging 28.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game in carrying Purdue to its first championship game appearance since 1969. But Clingan, a 7-2, 280-pound center, has been nearly as impactful in his own right. The sophomore is averaging 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game for the reigning champion Huskies during the NCAA Tournament. 

In the process, both have improved their NBA Draft stock as much as anyone this postseason, with Clingan even playing his way into the conversation to be the No. 1 pick.

Big men with big games in a big game.

Tale of the Tape: Zach Edey vs. Donovan Clingan

Zach Edey		Donovan Clingan
7-4	Height	7-2
300	Weight	280
Senior	Year	Sophomore
Toronto, Ontario	Hometown	Bristol, Connecticut
24.9	Points per game	13.1
12.2	Rebounds per game	7.4
62.5%	Field Goal Percentage	64.0%
2.2	Blocks per game	2.5

Strategically speaking, Clingan vs. Edey is more than just big vs. big. There are subtle stylistic notes that differentiate one 7-footer from the other.