Last week, Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery caught up with reporters where he discussed a number of topics about his 2022-23 roster.
Naturally, one of the first questions McCaffery was asked was the importance of star forward Kris Murray’s decision to return to Iowa City.
“Well, first of all, I’m really excited for him. First time in his life that he hasn’t played with his brother. He accepted the challenge of coming back. As I said before, he bet on himself. A lot of guys, if they have a two-way, they take it. He could’ve gone to a two-way if he wanted, but he wanted to come back. He loves his teammates and he wants the responsibility that’s going to be placed on him. And he’s ready for it, he’s worked hard for it and I’m excited for him,” McCaffery said.
Now, it’s Kris Murray’s turn to sound off on some of his thoughts during Iowa’s summer workouts in a recent interview with Andy Katz of the Big Ten Network.
Why Iowa can contend in the Big Ten again
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“Yeah, I think we’ve got a lot of experienced guys. We push each other every day in practice and it’s always constructive every single day. We’re getting the best out of each other. We’ve got guys that want to get in extra work and I think that’s great for us. We lost two guys in Keegan and Jordan who helped us out a lot last year. We’ve got a bunch of people that are ready to step up and expand their roles this year,” Murray said.
Iowa’s recent history replacing stars and stepping into that role
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“Yeah, I think that I’ll obviously be more of a focal point in scouting reports this year and I’m ready to take on that challenge. But, we’ve got a really balanced group that is really unselfish and likes to share the ball and I think that’s what is going to make us (tough to guard). We’ll be able to knock down shots from a variety of different people, we space the floor well, we’ve got guys who can create their own shots. I think that having that success these last few years definitely, you’d think that we’d have a guy that would break out and kind of take on that national player of the year role. I think this next year we’ll definitely have a really balanced group of guys,” Murray said.
What he’s working on to increase his scoring production
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
“Yeah, I think for me right now it’s just working on my touch around the rim and my midrange game a lot and not settling just for 3-point shots, which I got a lot in the pick-and-roll last year, pick-and-pops. I think just doing that, getting to the free throw line more, shooting a better percentage from the free throw line is what I’ve been working on a lot and playing off of two feet and getting bigger and stronger in the weight room is multiple things that I’ve been working on a lot this year, which I think will help my scoring and help me also stay out of foul trouble,” Murray said.
Not dwelling on the 2022 NCAA Tournament loss to Richmond
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
“It left me honestly right when we got back to Iowa City. I got right back into the gym the day after that, so I think just putting myself in the gym really helped me just take my mind off of it. It was just a game that we didn’t play well. We didn’t have what we had in the Big Ten Tournament the week before. Hats off to them. They had a great game plan, they played great basketball and it’s just something that we’re going to have to overcome this next year,” Murray said.
The importance of his teammates’ returns
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“Yeah, I think that we have an experienced group who, we’ve been through the Big Ten gauntlet. We had younger guys last year who it was their first time, including myself, going through the Big Ten, that full slate of games. Having these guys return—Patrick, Connor, Josh—is going to be big for us just because they bring a leadership to our team that, an experience that they’ve had going through the Big Ten, which will help our younger guys like Dasonte Bowen who we’re expecting to play a role on our team this year. So, I think having those guys come back is really going to help us overall,” Murray said.
Playing minus his twin Keegan
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“Yeah, I think a lot of people think that Keegan and I were really like close-knit. I mean, which, we obviously are twins and have been with each other our whole lives, but we’re perfectly comfortable separating and I think we’re both ready for that challenge. I’m ready to kind of have him out of my ear sometimes, but I’m looking forward to it. Looking to create my own legacy here at Iowa and just leave this place better than when I came here,” Murray said.
Thoughts on Keegan’s NBA 2K23 Summer League MVP
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“I mean, obviously I thought he’d play well. I didn’t think he’d win MVP at first glance, but his game just works so well in the NBA. Just how he can space the floor. I think he’s virtually un-guardable at his position, the way he can dribble, pass and shoot and create for others. His versatility is a big thing that NBA teams like and he just flows smoothly within the game,” Murray said.
He said an NBA League Pass is in the cards for he and his family to watch Keegan in this upcoming NBA season.
“Yeah, we’re going to have to…I mean, by the time our games get done, his might just be starting, so I think that NBA League Pass is going to be big this year for our family. So, I’ll be able to catch most of the games I think,” Murray said.
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