The Purdue Boilermakers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen on Sunday after a deft performance against Utah State. Purdue is just two games away from the Final Four, which would be head coach Matt Painter’s first of his career. Led by Zach Edey, Purdue is one of the best teams in the nation, but after losing last year to 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, the consensus isn’t really in their favor. But while criticism has sharpened against them, Painter lashed back at critics on Sunday following the win.
A reporter asked the Purdue head coach about critics of Edey’s. The reigning National Player of the Year would have likely been a lottery pick 20 years ago, but with basketball having changed a bit, some are out on Edey and aren’t thinking highly of him and his admittedly slow play at times. But Painter was having absolutely none of it.
“Yeah, they just shouldn’t cover basketball,” Painter matter-of-factly told reporters following the Boilermakers’ win. “You go to school, and you learn things or whatever. But we all don’t like every single class we’re in, right? It’s kind of a necessary evil. It’s like going to work. You don’t like everybody you work with, or you don’t like certain parts of your job. It’s tough right? You’ve gotta be able to deal with certain things that are difficult.”
Purdue HC Matt Painter strikes back against Zach Edey critics: ‘They just shouldn’t cover basketball’ https://t.co/vrHC9F9W3l pic.twitter.com/NXvNUTnhn1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 24, 2024
Painter later suggested that journalists should be required to take a basketball quiz to test their knowledge prior to entering the field, among other things.
Suffice it to say, Painter’s comments sparked significant discussion on Sunday afternoon amid the NCAA Tournament’s crazy first weekend. Many liked what the Purdue coach had to say after backing up his best player.
Sure okay, whatever dude. He’s not perfect https://t.co/ALlsT9LmJj
— reva🌴 (@reeves526) March 24, 2024
By that logic shouldn't coaches have to take a journalism quiz?
— John W. (@jmwall24) March 24, 2024
I respect this answer from Matt Painter. But I’ve been around Purdue games/press conferences/practices and never heard a credentialed reporter say Zach Edey “is just tall.” Ever. Let’s separate Mike879656 on Twitter from the folks who actually do this for a living please. Thanks. https://t.co/25umlrKIYE
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) March 24, 2024
This is awesome. Love Painter. https://t.co/uqlwyWye9x
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 24, 2024
I’m in tears 😂😂😂😂
Nothin but the truth here 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 https://t.co/nZfPTddGoZ
— Ryne Smith (@RyneSmith_) March 24, 2024
Matt Painter with quite the answer to a question about people who only think Edey is good because he’s tall: https://t.co/qIERiY9SiZ
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 24, 2024
Meet at the local store and say things don’t make sense. 💀😂 https://t.co/sptBZBIAJi
— Jamie Erdahl (@JamieErdahl) March 24, 2024
lmao this is delightfully savage. https://t.co/PruaH2B7Gz
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 24, 2024
