Purdue's Zach Edey wins battle vs. Tennessee's Dalton Knecht in Elite Eight showdown of top players

Edey got the better of Knecht and carried the Boilermakers to a win in the Midwest Regional final

By David Cobb Apr 1, 2024 at 11:23 am ET• 5 min read

DETROIT -- When Zach Edey airballed a free throw with 42 seconds remaining, a nervous energy began percolating inside Little Caesars Arena. Purdue and its massive contingent of fans were closing in on their first Final Four appearance since 1980, but Edey's consecutive misses at the line flung the door open for Tennessee.

It was hard to blame the Boilermakers faithful for their anxiety as Dalton Knecht began knifing toward the basket with a chance to cut Purdue's five-point lead back to one possession. Knecht had already scored 37 points for Tennessee to will the Volunteers within striking distance of their first-ever Final Four.

Then, in a moment of fate, the two All-Americans met near the rim. In a redemptive sequence to highlight a redemptive season, Edey turned Purdue's tension into triumph. The 7-foot-4 superstar swatted Knecht's layup attempt without sending it out of bounds.

Purdue forward Mason Gillis collected the rebound and began a game of hot potato as the Boilermakers ran critical seconds off the clock before Tennessee was finally able to foul. The play sealed a 72-66 Elite Eight victory for Purdue, and it ended any lingering debate over who is the best player in college basketball.