IOWA CITY — University of Iowa men’s basketball junior forward Kris Murray has been named the ESPN Men’s Basketball National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Monday. Murray shares the conference honor with Purdue’s Zach Edey.
Murray (6-foot-8, 220 pounds) powered the Hawkeyes to a convincing 85-61 win over Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last Tuesday. He exploded for 31 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, four 3-pointers, and two blocked shots. He reached double-digit rebounds and points in the first 13:15 of the game.
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native is the first Hawkeye to amass 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game since Bruce King versus Ohio State on Jan. 27, 1977. He is also the only NBA, WNBA, or Division I men’s or women’s player in the last 20 years to total 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, 4+ assists, 4+ 3-pointers, and 2+ blocks in the same game.
Murray has scored 20+ points and notched double-doubles in a team-best four games this season. The last time a Hawkeye pulled down 20 or more rebounds in a game was Kris’ brother, Keegan, versus N.C. Central on Nov. 16, 2021. Tuesday’s 20-rebounding performance marks the 25th time in program history that the feat was accomplished.
University of Iowa All American Caitlin Clark earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors for her historic performances against NC State and Wisconsin. The announcement was made Monday by the Big Ten Conference office. This marks Clark’s 13th weekly award from the conference, which is fifth-most in B1G history.
Clark led all scorers in both games with 45 against the Wolfpack and 22 at Wisconsin. The 45-point performance in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge was the most points by a Division I women’s basketball player this season. It was the fourth arena record Clark has set in her career.
Against the Badgers, Clark registered her seventh career triple-double with 22 points, 10 boards, 10 assists, two blocks, and two steals. Her seventh career triple-double broke the Big Ten record for most in a career by any men’s or women’s player in conference history.
Clark currently leads the nation in points, points per game, free throws, and free throws attempted. The West Des Moines, Iowa native, is the only player in the country with more than 240 points, 60 rebounds, 50 assists, and five steals. On Sunday, she moved up to fourth on Iowa’s all-time scoring list with 1,916 career points.
