7’4 translates to dominate in metric.

It was a good start to international play for the three Boilermakers in the FIBA 2021 U19 World Cup.

The Canadian team one against Lithuania 80-71.

Zach Edey started the morning off collecting a monster double-double, and igniting a second-half comeback for team Canada. The 7’4 Purdue center had 12 points and 16 rebounds and his dominance on the glass and easy buckets in the paint helped erase a double-digit deficit early in the second half.

Edey looked, as he has his whole career, like the biggest player on the court and he used his size and strength to control the glass and provide a struggling Canadian offense with easy lobs and put backs. He had a team-high +/- of 16.

Even more encouraging was his ability to stay on the court for as long as he did. He showed an increased stamina, playing just under 30 minutes for the game and closing out the final 8 minutes. He did struggle to protect the rim, but showed good fluidity coming out to challenge ball handlers in the pick and roll.

The Ivey is growing.

For the US team, it was pure domination. Jaden Ivey and Caleb Furst were part of a dominating 83-54 smashing of Turkey. There was no drama from start to finish, but their was some illuminating and spectacular highlights, almost exclusively from one Jaden Ivey.

Ivey did not get the start, but he led the team again in scoring, dropping 21 points, including three 3’s, and a handful of highlight dunks.

Caleb Furst looked like the kind of glue guy that holds talented teams together. He wasn’t given the ball much, and wasn’t asked to do much on offense, but he played his part, found open lanes, scored 7 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had a couple nice dunks for his trouble.

But today’s game was all about Ivey’s ascension. He looked like the best player on the court - a superior athlete with size, handle, and burst who could get whereever he wanted on the court. His jump shot looked improved and quick. He had no hesitation firing when he had spacing, but the game was all about Ivey’s burst with the ball.

He consistently pushed and attacked in transition and half court. He was able to beat his man and was relentless attacking with and without the ball. He looked like he was on a different level than anyone on the court.

His biggest highlights were repeated - he started early with a steal near mid court by closing on a pass and tipping the ball ahead of him. He finished the steal with a windmill dunk that would have blown the roof off Mackey.

He had two more steals that led to open dunks in transitions. His pick-2’s were explosive, and the kind of defensive improvement Coach Painter will need from his lead guard.

It’s looking very much like the international stage might be the launching point of Jaden Ivey’s ascension to best players in college basketball.

Both teams and all three players will play again tomorrow. Edey’s Canadian team will take on Japan at 5 o clock eastern and Team USA will play at 1:30 against Mali.