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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Kevin Sweeney

Purdue-Samford Had the Most Overmatched Opening Tipoff You’ll Ever See

Purdue Samford Zach Edey

Purdue star center and defending National Player of the Year, Zach Edey, towers over almost everyone. But fans finally got a chance to see what it would look like if the 7’4” big man went up against normal-sized humans Monday in a hilarious season-opening tip-off against Samford.

Samford Bulldogs guard Rylan Jones drives the ball toward the basket against Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey during the first half at Mackey Arena. 

Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Samford, a Division I team from Birmingham, Ala., decided to send 5’8”, 140-pound point guard Dallas Graziani into the jump circle with Edey rather than its center. The result: One of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen on a basketball court, with Edey’s 20-inch height advantage on full display.

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Samford had teased doing this in the week leading up to the game, sharing some epic preview content of Graziani practicing his leaping ability across campus and promoting the tip-off as though it was a heavyweight fight.

In the end, Graziani decided not to jump for the tip, simply conceding the opening possession to Purdue but producing a viral moment in the process. And it was all downhill for the Bulldogs from there, with Purdue winning in blowout fashion, 98–45. 

But if nothing else, it made an otherwise-forgettable game quite memorable.

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