Canada’s Edey leads Purdue to No. 1 NCAA Basketball ranking

Purdue has climbed to No. 1 in men’s basketball AP Top 25 for the second straight season. The Boilermakers moved up three spots in this week’s poll.

Virginia moved up to No. 2, with Connecticut, Alabama and Houston rounding out the top five.

The Crimson Tide have their second top-five ranking in three seasons after becoming the second team to beat two No. 1 teams in the same season.

Alabama knocked off Houston last week after beating North Carolina earlier in the season.

Zach Edey, a seven-foot-four centre from Toronto, is a large part of Purdue’s success so far this season.

The 20-year-old junior is averaging 22 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 62.8 per cent from the floor in 10 games so far this season.

A Canadian has never won the Naismith College Player of the Year award.