DETROIT — Purdue big man Zach Edey went for a career-high 40 points along with 16 rebounds and one big block Sunday to muscle the Boilermakers into the program’s first Final Four since 1980 with a 72-66 victory over Tennessee.
The 7-foot-4 center willed his way to a win in a back-and-forth thriller between the country’s top two players, edging out Tennessee’s All-American, Dalton Knecht, who finished with 37 points.
Fittingly for this showdown, Edey swatted away Knecht’s layup as the Northern Colorado transfer drove to the basket while trailing by five with 33 seconds left, putting an end to the Vols’ desperate comeback hopes.
Zach Edey #15 and Fletcher Loyer #2 of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates after defeating the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena. Getty ImagesPurdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) shoots the ball defended by Tennessee Volunteers forward J.P. Estrella (13) in the first half. Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY SportsTennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) reacts after a three-point basket during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game against Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. AP
Top-seeded Purdue (33-4) set aside last year’s grand disappointment — a first-round loss as a No. 1 seed — to book the trip to Glendale, Arizona.
On Saturday, the Boilermakers will play either Duke or North Carolina State in the national semifinals.
This was a scrapfest of a game played in front of an ear-splitting crowd packed with Purdue fans who made their way up from Indiana.
They were looking for history, and they got it — along with the game ball that Fletcher Loyer chucked about 20 rows into the stands when the buzzer went off.
With the school’s 87-year-old former coach, Gene Keady, sitting in the stands, this game at times looked like a dusty ol’ throwback.
Purdue fed the ball into Edey in the post, and though the grabby, swatty UT defense made some inroads — even blocking two of his shots — foul trouble piled up and Edey wore them down, but just barely.
Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) battles Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) for the ball in the first half during the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at Little Caesars Arena. Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY SportsPurdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) reacts after a three-point basket during the second half. AP
He finished 13 of 21 from the floor and lived at the foul line, where he went 14 for 22.
Tennessee (27-9) was seeking its first Final Four, and Vols coach Rick Barnes was denied the second trip there of his 38-year career.
Volunteers star quarterback Hendon Hooker will miss the rest of the college football season with a torn ACL, Tennessee announced in a statement.
Hooker went down with the injury during the fourth quarter of a 63-38 loss against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium. The potential NFL draft pick limped back to the locker room after needing assistance getting off the field.
The redshirt senior helped revive a failing Volunteers football team and transformed Tennessee (9-2) into the No. 9 team in the country and a College Football Playoff contender.
“Hendon’s incredible journey has been defined by faith, perseverance and strength,” Tennessee said in the statement. “Obstacles have never stood in the way on his path to greatness.”
Hooker cemented himself as one the best Tennesee QBs of all time by putting up Heisman Trophy-worthy numbers in 2022. The senior notched 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns. He also averaged an 89.6 quarterback rating — the second-best in college football.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) is assisted off the field after suffering an injury.USA TODAY Sports
Backup quarterback Joe Milton replaced Hooker on Saturday. The Tennessee senior will likely start against Vanderbilt next weekend.
Tennessee, Ohio State, Georgia, and Clemson were the top four teams in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season released Tuesday night, four days before the Volunteers and Bulldogs square off on the field.
Michigan was fifth, followed by Alabama and unbeaten TCU.
Tennessee is No. 1 in the CFP rankings for the first time, starting ahead of a group of teams that have become regulars at the top of the selection committee’s top 25. The Volunteers have already beaten the Crimson Tide and LSU, which was ranked 10th.
Tennessee has been one of the season’s biggest surprises, starting the season unranked in the AP poll and jumping out to an 8-0 start for the first time since the Vols won their last national title in 1998.
“We’ve tried to enjoy the journey,” second-year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told ESPN. “Three years ago, it didn’t look like this.”
Heupel took over after Jeremy Pruitt was fired following a 3-7 season.
Jaylen Wright celebrates during unbeaten Tennessee’s win over Kentucky.USA TODAY Sports
Only one team that has been No. 1 in the committee’s initial rankings has not made the playoff, but only about half the teams in first top four managed to finish there.
The committee began its weekly in-person meetings at hotel in Grapevine, Texas, on Monday and revealed the first of six weekly rankings.
The final rankings that set the CFP field of four are set for Dec. 4. The 13-person panel is led by a first-time chairman Boo Corrigan, the athletic director of North Carolina State.
Corrigan said there was some consideration for Ohio State and Georgia as No. 1, but Tennessee’s victories against Alabama and at LSU won the day.
C.J. StroudUSA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes’ explosive offense and overall dominance gave them a slight edge on Georgia.
He said Michigan’s weak nonconference schedule (Hawaii, Colorado State and Connecticut) and Clemson’s 5-0 record against teams with winning records gave the Tigers the nod for the fourth spot.
“The wins at Wake (Forest), at Florida State, over N.C. State, over Syracuse, really did push (Clemson) over the top,” Corrigan said.
Oregon was eighth followed by Pac-12 rival Southern California at ninth.
The highest ranked team from outside the Power Five conferences was Tulane at No. 19. The highest ranked champion from the Group of Five conferences earns a spot in New Year’s Six bowl.
The CFP semifinals are scheduled to be played at the Fiesta and Peach Bowls on Dec. 31, with the championship game set for Jan. 9 in Inglewood, California.
Our college football betting expert offers his best betting picks and predictions for the SEC matchup between Alabama vs. Tennessee scheduled for Saturday at Knoxville, Tennessee., at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
No. 3 Alabama faces an extreme test with the visit to No. 6 Tennessee, which will be looking to post a signature win that elevates the program back into the national elite.
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Alabama vs. Tennessee picks and analysis
The Crimson Tide are hoping quarterback Bryce Young’s throwing shoulder will heal enough for him to play, while the Volunteers’ upset chances will increase substantially if he misses a second straight game.
Tennessee to cover +7
Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) is a different team without Young as redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe isn’t a sufficient passing threat. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Milroe played with a lot of anxiety in last week’s 24-20 win over Texas A&M, so it’s hard to see him calmer this week if he plays.
Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, has passed for 1,202 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. His presence would bring confidence to the Alabama offense as well as big-time production.
The Crimson Tide have gone run-heavy without Young by gaining 317 against Arkansas on Oct. 1 and 293 versus Texas A&M. That would again be the plan against Tennessee if Young is unable to play.
The Volunteers would benefit greatly if Young can’t play as his absence would pump up their upset chances.
Our Pick: Tennessee to cover +7
Jabari Small #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates a touchdownGetty Images
Over 65 points
Tennessee (5-0, 2-0) has already beaten three ranked teams this season and is 5-0 for the first time since 2016. The Volunteers have 500-plus yards of offense in four of their five games.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker has gone a program-record 239 passes without an interception and has completed 70 percent of his passes for 1,432 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He has been a difference-maker for a club that ranks second nationally in scoring offense (46.8 points per game) and leads the nation in total offense (547.8 yards per outing).
Alabama’s defense ranks sixth in both scoring defense (12.5) and total defense (250.8) as it looks to slow down the Vols. Tennessee also had a big game on the ground last weekend with a season-best 263 rushing yards in a 40-13 trouncing of host LSU.
The Crimson Tide are fifth in scoring offense (44.3) and seventh in total offense (503.7) while Tennessee is a big shaky with a ranking of 87th in total defense (396.6) despite being 22nd in scoring defense (17.8).
Our Pick: Over 65 points
Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson TideGetty Images
Betting on College Football?
Jahmyr Gibbs over 109.5 rushing yards
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs is averaging 8.3 yards per carry while rushing for 532 yards and two touchdowns. He has been especially potent the last two games with 360 yards on 39 carries.
If Young misses the game, you can expect Gibbs to get another heavy workload with part of the goal being to keep the Tennessee offense off the field. The cautionary part is he had 36 or fewer yards in three straight games before breaking out pick.
But taking the pressure off Milroe will be crucial for the Crimson Tide so we see Gibbs continuing his recent production.
Our Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs over 109.5 rushing yards
Alabama vs. Tennessee odds
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
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