Seven-foot-4 Zach Edey wins lopsided dive ball versus 5-foot-8 Dallas

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 6, 2023, 10:02 PM ET

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• Basketball recruiting insider.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Twenty inches.That was the height distinction for Monday’s opening tipoff

  in between the No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers and the Samford Bulldogs.On one side was the Boilermakers ‘7-foot-4 center and reigning Wood Award winner Zach Edey. Going against him in the center circle? Samford guard Dallas Graziani, who stands just 5-foot-8. It went as you might expect.In case you were wondering, @zach_edey won that jump ball. pic.twitter.com/8PPeSCZsP0!.?.!— Big 10 Men’s Basketball(@B1GMBBall)

  November 6, 2023 Hang it @MuseeLouvre #BuckyBall|#AllForSAMford pic.twitter.com/3vHUCiKUxx!.?.!— Samford Men’s Basketball(@SamfordMBB)November 7, 2023 While Edey would have most likely won the tip no matter whether he had advance notice of his dive ball opponent, Samford head coach Bucky McMillan did tip his hand recently, saying in a video on social media that he was going with Graziani on Monday.Heart over height #BuckyBall|#AlllForSAMford pic.twitter.com/694EiPJvYr!.?.!— Samford Men’s Basketball(@SamfordMBB )October 31, 2023 “Every game is going to start with a jump ball, “McMillan stated.”Some state to win that dive ball, you got ta have height. I disagree. It’s not about height; it has to do with heart.””We’re playing against 7-4 All-American prospect Zach Edey. Some say 7-4, some say 7-10. We’ve got an ace in the hole for that dive ball. His name is Dallas Graziani. We have actually got some extreme training we’ll be doing over

  the next 5 days to show you how big Dallas Graziani at 5-7– Dallas Graziani, at 5-7 1/2– is going to win that dive ball … See you at the dive circle, big Zach.”The opening suggestion marked the end of the suspense for Edey and Purdue. The Boilermakers travelled to a 98-45 win over the Bulldogs as Edey ended up with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.