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“Bad Boys” Legacy Helped Arkansas Stymie Purdue’s Superstar, Ratchet Up Expectations

FAYETTEVILLE — Just as the Bad Boy Pistons had the “Jordan Rules” three-plus decades ago, Arkansas basketball deployed the “Edey Rules” in Saturday’s exhibition matchup with Purdue.

Head coach Eric Musselman might have mimicked his mentor, Chuck Daly, when it came to that phrase, but reigning national player of the year Zach Edey more closely resembles another former NBA superstar than the G.O.A.T.

And even though the 7-foot-4, 300-pound Edey still finished with 15 points and 9 rebounds, the Razorbacks kept him mostly in check and eventually got him to foul out late in the overtime period as they pulled away for an 81-77 victory in front of a raucous, sold-out Bud Walton Arena.