GLENDALE, Ariz. During a quiet beat in the national anthem before Purdue played at Illinois on March 5, someone in the crowd screamed loud enough for everyone else to hear: “F Zach Edey!” Boilermakers assistant Brandon Brantley and director of operations Elliot Bloom looked at each other and mouthed, “Thank you.” They knew what was coming. A poked bear proceeded to maul the Illini: 28 points, eight boards, three assists, two blocks and a steal in a 77-71 road win over the second-best team in the Big Ten.“When he was younger, I’d tell him, ‘Oh, that big guy, he’s my favorite in the league. He’s the best in the league,’” Brantley said. “He’d look at me like, What? I’d tell him, ‘Hey, there’s a package in my office. (Maryland center) Julian Reese sent you roses.’ It’s harder now, because he knows how good he is.”There just aren’t many big men left who anyone could consider a legitimate threat to Edey, the 7-foot-4, 300-pound, two-time national pl