Sorry, Purdue. There's only room for one Big Z in college basketball

Yeah, no. Sorry Purdue, it just doesn’t work like that. You can’t watch Big Z go viral on social media and then try to steal the buzz for your own basketball giant. This town ain’t big enough for the two of us.

The Boilermakers celebrated Zach Edey‘s ninth career Big Ten Player of the Week honor by pretending “Big Z” is a thing with him. And it’s just not.

No. 9️⃣ for Big Z.

✅: Zach Edey wins his 9th career Big Ten Player of the Week accolade. pic.twitter.com/bG8uiCr3CQ

— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) January 22, 2024

See, here’s the thing. Edey, a native of Toronto, already has a nickname: “The Big Maple.” It’s fitting for the Canadian big man, the tallest in Big Ten history at 7-4. It’s what he went by en route to unanimous National Player of the Year honors in 2022-23, averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

A simple Google search shows “Big Z” references are few and far between with Edey — a few fans called him that on social media and Purdue made a cute pun for it when he won the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy a year ago.

“Big Z wins the Big O,” the school wrote on social media.

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A post shared by Purdue Basketball (@boilerball)

That’s about it, no other Big Z references. On the other hand, Big Maple is everywhere. Shoot, it’s on Edey’s merchandise over at The Purdue NIL Store, where fans can buy player-specific jerseys, shirts and hoodies.

“Did another bone-rattling Zach Edey dunk send you here? Say thanks by purchasing Zach’s merch,” the store says. “Your purchase puts money directly into his pocket.”

Four years later, your time in college basketball is up, old man. You will retire as Big Maple or maybe even “Big First Round Exit,” depending on how things wrap up this season. He’s got as many of those as he does tournament wins as a Boilermaker, this year will finally split the tie.

But he will not be Big Z. There is only one of those in college basketball. And Edey is lucky he got a 16-game headstart on his NPOY campaign.

Zvonimir Ivisic has some ground to make up, but the race starts now. Big Z vs. Big Maple. May the best 7-footer win.