For the second time in as many weeks, junior forward
Jordan Murphy was selected as the top performer in the Big Ten, earning Player
of the Week honors on Monday. Murphy has now captured the award three times in
his career.
The San Antonio, Texas native continued his torrid start
to the season, rattling off double-doubles in each of the Gophers’ three wins
last week.
Murphy began the week with a dominant performance at
Providence in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds while
adding three blocks and two assists. Two days later, Murphy chipped in 18
points and 11 rebounds in the 107-81 victory over Niagara. Sunday evening,
Murphy took control of the game in the second half with 23 points, 11 rebounds,
four assists, two blocks and two steals against Western Carolina. 17 of his
points came in the second half against the Catamounts, while he posted a career
performance at the free throw line, going 15-for-19 (78.9 percent).
He is the first Gopher to win Player of the Week in
back-to-back weeks, and one of just four to ever garner the award multiple
times in a season. Murphy joins Kris Humphries (2003-04), Joel Pryzbilla
(1999-2000) and Quincy Lewis (1998-99) as the only Minnesota players to do so.
Lewis was the only Gopher to earn the award three times in a season.
Additionally, he is the first Big Ten player to win
back-to-back weekly honors since Ethan Happ on Jan. 23 and 30 last season.
Murphy, who is averaging Big Ten highs of 24.8 points and
12.8 rebounds per game, is currently third in the nation with three double
doubles, 19th in rebounds and 43rd in total points. Murphy’s
4.67 offensive rebounds per game are 15th in the country.
Murphy and the Gophers continue a busy seven-day stretch
on Tuesday as they host Alabama A&M at 7:00 p.m.
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