Keegan Murray named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

[Blair Sanderson]

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore forward Keegan Murray has been named to the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Big Ten Conference.

It marks the third straight season that one or more Hawkeyes have been selected to the preseason list, voted upon by a selected panel of media. Joe Wieskamp was selected in 2019 and 2020, while Luka Garza was tabbed the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year in November, 2020.

Murray is one of the league’s top emerging players after being named to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team a year ago. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native was one of only five players nationally -- and only bench player -- to amass 200 points, 35 blocks, 25 steals, and 15 3-pointers. He was the team’s leading scorer (7.8) and rebounder (5.5) off the bench in conference play. Murray led team in blocks 12 times and steals five times. The 6-foot-8 forward was second on the team in steals (26) and ranked 11th in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (1.26). His 39 blocks tie for fourth most by a freshman in program history.

Murray totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and a steal in Iowa’s first-round victory over Grand Canyon to become the first Hawkeye ever to stuff the stat sheet with those numbers in an NCAA Tournament contest.

2021-22 MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM*
KOFI COCKBURN, JR., C, ILLINOIS
Andre Curbelo, So., G, Illinois
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, JR., F, INDIANA
Keegan Murray, So., F, Iowa
Eric Ayala, Sr., G, Maryland
HUNTER DICKINSON, SO., C, MICHIGAN
Caleb Houstan, Fr., G/F, Michigan
E.J. LIDDELL, JR., F, OHIO STATE
JADEN IVEY, SO., G, PURDUE
Trevion Williams, Sr., F, Purdue
Ron Harper Jr., Sr., G/F, Rutgers


2021-22 BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kofi Cockburn, Jr., C, Illinois

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
* Additional honoree due to tie

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Congrats to Keegan. Good to be recognized, but post-season is what matters.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore forward Keegan Murray has been named to the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Big Ten Conference.

It marks the third straight season that one or more Hawkeyes have been selected to the preseason list, voted upon by a selected panel of media. Joe Wieskamp was selected in 2019 and 2020, while Luka Garza was tabbed the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year in November, 2020.

Murray is one of the league’s top emerging players after being named to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team a year ago. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native was one of only five players nationally -- and only bench player -- to amass 200 points, 35 blocks, 25 steals, and 15 3-pointers. He was the team’s leading scorer (7.8) and rebounder (5.5) off the bench in conference play. Murray led team in blocks 12 times and steals five times. The 6-foot-8 forward was second on the team in steals (26) and ranked 11th in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (1.26). His 39 blocks tie for fourth most by a freshman in program history.

Murray totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and a steal in Iowa’s first-round victory over Grand Canyon to become the first Hawkeye ever to stuff the stat sheet with those numbers in an NCAA Tournament contest.

2021-22 MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM*
KOFI COCKBURN, JR., C, ILLINOIS
Andre Curbelo, So., G, Illinois
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, JR., F, INDIANA
Keegan Murray, So., F, Iowa
Eric Ayala, Sr., G, Maryland
HUNTER DICKINSON, SO., C, MICHIGAN
Caleb Houstan, Fr., G/F, Michigan
E.J. LIDDELL, JR., F, OHIO STATE
JADEN IVEY, SO., G, PURDUE
Trevion Williams, Sr., F, Purdue
Ron Harper Jr., Sr., G/F, Rutgers


2021-22 BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kofi Cockburn, Jr., C, Illinois

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
* Additional honoree due to tie

Well deserved.

 

[BBHawk]

RESPECT.

 

[Hawksfor3]

35 blocks, 25 steals

Murray led team in blocks 12 times and steals five times. The 6-foot-8 forward was second on the team in steals (26) and ranked 11th in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (1.26). His 39 blocks tie for fourth most by a freshman in program history.

This is huge.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

He absolutely earned it with his play.

Some guys might get a bit of a head start from being already heralded as a big time recruit. I don't fault them for it, but it is an advantage. Not so for Keegan.

Keegan's recognition is all about what he showed last year, and from that what is thought that he will continue to bring with his play.
As much as I'd hate to see him go, I would love for him to have a spectacular season that gets him on a lot of potential 1st round draft pick lists.

 

[HawkLogic]

Unleash Kris also...give Fran credit for offering and of course papa for raising them right.
Lets play some defense this year.

Curbelo really irritates me but he is good. JoeT could do some film study on Curbelo.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Very impressive!

 

[TouchdownMyPants]

The Murray twins and Aaron White have got
To be the best “Diamonds in the rough” of the Fran era. Tyler Ulis would have been the icing on the cake, but I think landing his brother could be a huge get for the Hawks.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I wonder if a guy who didn’t even start the previous year has ever been named to a preseason All Big Team? Certainly some nice company he is listed with.

 

[nbanflfactory]

Unleash Kris also...give Fran credit for offering and of course papa for raising them right.
Lets play some defense this year.

Curbelo really irritates me but he is good. JoeT could do some film study on Curbelo.

we're gonna have to if we want to win.
lost our 3 best scorers, without D it'll be a long season.

plenty of garbage team to play to prepare, finger crossed!

KM gonna be a beast thing year, that's all I do know

 

[topherchris20]

I wonder if a guy who didn’t even start the previous year has ever been named to a preseason All Big Team? Certainly some nice company he is listed with.

I don't think curbelo started. Probably happens pretty often.

 

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

This is definite evidence that the program gained some national respect in the last few seasons. A non starter projected to the ABT list would have been unthinkable for Iowa even 5 years ago.

Assuming the conference season is not ruined by officiating or injuries this squad is going to be a big national surprise.

 

[jonesy5960]

Not bad for a fallback recruit huh fellas?

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Unleash Kris also...give Fran credit for offering and of course papa for raising them right.
Lets play some defense this year.

Curbelo really irritates me but he is good. JoeT could do some film study on Curbelo.

Curbelo irritates you?? He’s super nice and hilarious, lol.

Well deserved for Murray, I think he’ll have a big year.

 

[Franisdaman]

Maybe it's me, but sure, the PREseason mentions are nice but what is REALLY NICE is when March and April arrive and all the REAL hardware is handed out.

That's what matters.

 

[topherchris20]

Maybe it's me, but sure, the PREseason mentions are nice but what is REALLY NICE is when March and April arrive and all the REAL hardware is handed out.

That's what matters.

Gotta have something to talk about in October. March is a long ways away.

 

[Franisdaman]

Gotta have something to talk about in October. March is a long ways away.

yeah, i get it. but at the same time, all that matters is who wins in the end.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[KcTo]

Hard to believe that Fran started injured ConMac and CJ over Keegan versus Oregon
Coaching Blunder?

 

[Ronman]

Hard to believe that Fran started injured ConMac and CJ over Keegan versus Oregon
Coaching Blunder?

You been Rip van Winkling it the past nine months?

 

[ObeseMuffins]

I thought 15 ppg would be reasonable for Keegan but 20 ppg is not out of reach. He can score in a multitude of ways.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[RocknRollface]

Here's the real question.

Can he win conference player of the year to go along with being defensive player of the year?

Hes almost certainly going to win the defensive poy award with the numbers he'll accumulate in steals, blocks and rebounds.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[longliveCS40]

I thought 15 ppg would be reasonable for Keegan but 20 ppg is not out of reach. He can score in a multitude of ways.

It'll get tougher when Big Ten play starts and teams are focused on him.

 

[Ronman]

It'll get tougher when Big Ten play starts and teams are focused on him.

That's why we need Kris and Pat to step up and become threats.

 

[longliveCS40]

That's why we need Kris and Pat to step up and become threats.

Definitely. And we especially need the shooters like JBo to knock down 3s consistently. Defenses are going to pack it in if we have no outside shooting threat and that will hamper Keegan a little if they do.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Definitely. And we especially need the shooters like JBo to knock down 3s consistently. Defenses are going to pack it in if we have no outside shooting threat and that will hamper Keegan a little if they do.

I was relatively agnostic on Sandfort helping this year, but seeing him in limited action so far it appears that he might be a contributor from 3 that some were stating in the preseason.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Something that probably seems obvious to most so far, if Keegan gets in foul trouble or is otherwise unavailable it will be very difficult for the team to get the win.

 

[PHawkKenyon]

It'll get tougher when Big Ten play starts and teams are focused on him.

Tell me, as an analyst, how do you scheme against a 6’9, 225 lbs forward who can take a rebound and go coast to coast, beat you off the dribble, knock down threes, post up and convert at a 90% clip from the free throw line? Whatever they do, it will open up someone else on the floor. Going to be interesting to see how Keegan will elevate his teammates when comp gets tougher.

 

[longliveCS40]

Tell me, as an analyst, how do you scheme against a 6’9, 225 lbs forward who can take a rebound and go coast to coast, beat you off the dribble, knock down threes, post up and convert at a 90% clip from the free throw line? Whatever they do, it will open up someone else on the floor. Going to be interesting to see how Keegan will elevate his teammates when comp gets tougher.

100% agree with you, Kenyon. Keegan is a problem for defenses. That's why I think he'll see double teams and guys cheating off their man to play help defense. Teammates are going to get open as a result and have to knock down shots and make defenses pay when they do that.