Dec. 14, 1999
by Bo Rottenborn
This past Wednesday I heard another typical horror story about the Campus Infirmary from a typical sophomore student. As we walked through the halls of the Joyce Center, he relayed the story from earlier that day. According to my acquaintance, he was instructed by the doctor to sprawl out on his stomach so that some blisters on his feet could be cleaned with a Q-Tip.
The student obeyed, but was soon shocked when he felt a needle giving an injection into the soft part of his foot. Becoming animated, he tells me that, in a violent reaction to the sudden, unexpected pain, he reached out and grabbed a clock attached to wall. Unfortunately, this clock was not as sturdy as it appeared and he inadvertently ripped it off the wall!
“I’ve had 20 stitches around my eye. I’ve had a hernia. I’ve had tons of sprained ankles.
But this was, without a doubt, the WORST pain I have ever felt!”
I laugh with him and we continue into the basketball arena to view the second half of the Irish women’s basketball season opener. As I enter the arena, I realize that this guy is just like any other student at Notre Dame.
This guy is Troy Murphy.
Prior to the 1998-99 Notre Dame basketball season, many fans had pointed to Notre Dame’s season opener as their first chance to see one of the best players in the country. They were right. But they didn’t realize how right they were.
In last year’s first game, Miami of Ohio’s Wally Szczerbiak, who had been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated earlier that month, was coming to town. Szczerbiak led Miami to a season-opening win over Notre Dame, while scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds. But that game will not be remembered as the night that “Wally’s World” invaded the Joyce Center. Rather, November 13, 1998, will be remembered as the date that a new era of Notre Dame basketball began. On that night, a lanky freshman still finding his way around campus, looked like anything but a rookie on the floor, starting his first collegiate game and matching Szczerbiak’s 19 points and six rebounds. This caused a stir among the Irish faithful, causing them to have new hope for the future because of this new guy who looked in his debut like the savior of Notre Dame basketball.
This guy is also Troy Murphy.
Legend-in-the-making or college kid?
When considering Notre Dame’s sophomore forward, it is sometimes difficult to decide which to label him. There is a rather convincing argument for both sides.
The basketball analyst part of you thinks that there is no way that someone with his skills could be anything but the next in a long line of Irish basketball standouts. After all, that Miami game springboarded Murphy to arguably the best freshman season ever by a player at Notre Dame.
He finished last season as Notre Dame’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while starting every contest in which he played.
“Coach (John) MacLeod threw me in the mix early. He gave me the opportunity to learn and make mistakes and learn from those mistakes,” recalls Murphy, “That gave me a lot of confidence to go out and do some of the things I was capable of doing. I never thought I would be able to have that kind of success. I was just hoping to come in here and start as a freshman and I was able to have a good season.”
That good season helped him earn team most-valuable-player honors, as well as set numerous marks for first-year players. He reached double figures in scoring in each of the first 12 games of the year and 26 of the 27 contests he played. Plus, Murphy finished the season with 519 points, surpassing Adrian Dantley’s record for points by a freshman.
This is the resume of a legend. But then again, does a legend pick up a women’s basketball schedule-poster to hang in his room?
Well, Murphy does. So I guess that makes him more of a college student.
But he was incredible in the BIG EAST a season ago, making an even bigger splash than against non-conference foes. He exploded onto the scene with a 30-point, 11-rebound performance against Providence, tying NBA scoring champ Allen Iverson’s record for most points in a BIG EAST debut. Troy proceeded to be named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on eight different occasions — the second highest total in conference history to Iverson’s nine in ’94-’95.
“I think the BIG EAST is tremendously important because it helps you for being selected to the NCAA Tournament. You want to do well in your league and you want to perform well,” says Murphy. “In the last couple years we’ve been in the middle to the lower end of that and we’d like to be one of the top teams in that league.”
Murphy averaged 10.3 rebounds in conference games to become the first freshman in league history to win the rebounding title. He also led the BIG EAST in field goal percentage and defensive rebounding and was in the league leaders in three other categories. Murphy’s scoring average was good enough for third best in the conference and was the second best ever by a freshman (behind Iverson’s 19.8). The BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Award was just a formality at the end of the season. Murphy also joined former All-American Pat Garrity as the only Irish players to be selected to the all-BIG EAST Conference team, earning second-team recognition.
Murphy’s performance from a season ago has had many coaches and writers across the country recognize his potential prior to this season. Murphy was selected all-BIG EAST first team and received numerous All-American mentions in various publications. Also, when the list of the 30 leading candidates for the 1999-2000 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award was released, Murphy was mentioned.
Although he recognizes the significance of these honors, Murphy realizes that they should not be held in too high esteem, commenting that “everyone that plays basketball would like to be an All-American, but when it comes down to it, being selected to an All-American team is very political.”
Once again, Murphy sounds like someone who eats, breathes and lives basketball. But is this the same player that attends Irish volleyball and women’s basketball games on a regular basis?
After six games this season, Murphy has shown All-American form on the floor. He was instrumental in pulling off the upset of fourth-ranked Ohio State in the season opener, leading the Irish with 21 points and 12 rebounds. He followed that up with two offensive extravaganzas at the Joyce Center, scoring 31 against Siena and 35 vs. St. Francis. Through six games, Murphy is averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds per game, both up from a season ago. Troy has had five double-doubles in the first six games, increasing his career total to 17 in 33 games.
In addition, He was the first BIG EAST Player of the Week this year and was also named to the Preseason NIT All-Tournament team for averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds in four games.
All the honors bestowed upon Murphy have not made him lose sight of his real priority — winning.
“It would mean a lot more to me if we were still playing in March than to win any award because we’re out there on the floor proving it instead of someone who has never played basketball picking somebody for some team. The awards are nice, but you have to really take it for what it’s worth, which is not that much.”
This season the Irish were voted ninth in the BIG EAST preseason poll by the coaches, but Murphy has high expectations after strong performances against ranked teams early in the campaign.
“We feel that it’s better that we are 3-3 than if we were 6-0 after playing against smaller teams,” Murphy asserts. “We know now that we can compete with the top teams and we’re not going to get waxed by Syracuse when we go out and play them. We’re more prepared. We’re humble in the fact that we’ve lost three games, but we know that we’re okay.”
These sound like the words of a seasoned basketball veteran who is not easily impressed by anything. Why, then, does Murphy light up at the mere mention of the atmosphere last Tuesday night in Bloomington, causing him to remark that the Hoosier supporters are the craziest fans he has ever seen. Perhaps because his approach to the NCAA basketball is analogous to a kid in a candy store . . . or a student enjoying every second of the college experience.
The biggest change that both sides of Murphy have had to adjust to is the hiring of head coach Matt Doherty. Despite his close relationship with previous coach John MacLeod, Murphy has tremendous respect for his new mentor.
“He’s someone that I really trust. He’s the ultimate player’s coach. When he first came in here, he met with each player individually and asked us what our needs were,” Murphy remembers, “He really helped me achieve things both on the court and off the court. He’s going to be the major factor in getting Notre Dame basketball to where it should be. He’s a tireless worker.”
Murphy also is certain that this season is the beginning of bringing Notre Dame basketball back to its former level.
“This is definitely just the start. It started when Dave (Graves) hit that shot against Ohio State. I think that was the start and its going to be a progression upward,” Murphy insists. “Coach Doherty is going to lead this program to be one of the top five in the country and he’s going to retire here. He’s going to be like a Roy Williams or Dean Smith who spends his whole time at one school. He’s going to be known around here as a great coach.”
Murphy also has confidence in the progress of the Irish in the next three seasons. This was shown by his giddy enthusiasm, which was more suited to an ND superfan than its star player, when he learned of the transfer of Oklahoma’s Ryan Humphrey to Notre Dame. He responded as any student who follows Irish basketball might have, declaring, “We’re going to be awesome!”
So who exactly is Troy Murphy? He has certainly established himself as a standout player for the Irish and has the potential to become the
next Notre Dame legend. But also there is that sense that being a college kid is enough for Troy Murphy. There is that sense that he is just enjoying every second of his experience. Truthfully, Murphy is a cross between a normal college student and a basketball legend.
Fortunately, this hybrid will not only survive, but thrive at Notre Dame.
But the next logical question for one of the best players in the country is will he jump to the NBA before he finishes his four years at the college level. Although he admits he will consider the options at a later time, Troy states flat out, “It’s my intent to stay here and receive a degree.”
It appears that, at least for now, Troy Murphy still wants to be a college student like everybody else.