In his first three starts this season, the only thing slowing down junior Erik Murphy’s shot has been his inability to stay on the court.
While Murphy, a 6-foot-10 forward, is shooting 54.5 percent from three — the second-highest mark on the team — a string of fouls early in games have caused him to play the fewest minutes among UF’s starting five.
His average of 20.7 minutes is 5.3 less per game than the closest starter, senior point guard Erving Walker.
Coupled with sophomore Will Yeguete missing time with a concussion, Murphy’s limited playing time thinned UF’s frontcourt against UNF to the point that coach Billy Donovan sent out an unpracticed four-guard set in the first half.
As the No. 7 Gators (2-1) prepare for a neutral-site game tonight at 7 against Wright State (2-1) in Tampa, Murphy is looking to end his streak of two consecutive games with two first-half fouls.
“It’s been a couple games, in the Ohio State game I had to give up that foul to not give up a wide-open layup,” Murphy said. “He missed both free throws, so in my mind, it was a good foul, and I feel like I had to do that.”
After starting against Ohio State on a 3-of-3 shooting tear from three, Murphy was subbed out with 5:04 remaining in the first half following his second foul. With Florida’s leading scorer out of the game, OSU closed the half on a 10-5 run and claimed its first lead of the night.
Two days later against UNF, Murphy again had to head to the bench for the final 12:44 of the first half after receiving what he referred to as a “questionable” call on a charge. Though the Gators held a 39-22 advantage against the Ospreys at halftime, they managed to make just 26.7 percent of their 15 threes.
“They got a little frustrated,” Donovan said. “It was more Will being out, Murphy and (Cody) Larson in foul trouble, and now we’re playing four guards.”
Murphy’s ability to step back to the 3-point line has caused mismatches when other teams’ big men have to chase him to the perimeter.
Though he had limited opportunities to shoot threes last season off the bench, Murphy made a team-high 40 percent of his 30 attempts.
“I’m doing it more, but I shot last year whenever I could,” he said. “Just in extended minutes this year, getting more shots, people might be a little bit surprised, but, obviously, it’s out now.”
While Donovan expects to go back to a more conventional lineup if Yeguete is able to play today against the Raiders, there’s still a chance that Murphy’s court time could be cut into if they decide to press heavily.
“Especially when teams bring three or four people in the backcourt,” Donovan said, “because now you’re having to bring Erik all the way up the floor.”
Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.
When he’s on the floor, Florida forward Erik Murphy is a threat from outside for the Gators. Murphy, a junior, made 40 percent on 30 attempts from three last season, which was a team-high mark.
