Murray State Basketball: An early look into a potential 2021-22 mid-major Cinderella
Frontcourt newcomers
Damiree “DJ” Burns rounds out the Div. I transfers, hailing from Southern where he saw limited action in six games this past season – but still averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 boards, which included 10 points against Iowa.
Those marks were no fluke, considering Burns’ freshman season in 2019-20 saw him log averages of 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 18.6 minutes per game. Alongside a career-best 33 points against Ecclesia, Burns has registered double-figures against a handful of solid programs, including Nebraska (14), Texas Southern (15), and Wright State (16).
The final, currently confirmed transfer is Elijah Farr, who comes to Murray, Kentucky after two years at Olney Central College, where he earned Region Player of the Year honors after leading his team in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (6.8), all the while dishing out a second-best 41 assists on the season. At 6-8, Farr primarily saw time at forward, where he was a brute inside en route to logging eight games of 20 points or better.
Even with the significant losses in the roster, Murray State – on paper – should be better than this past season’s 13-13 team, and has both the depth and offensive firepower to propel itself back into contending in the Ohio Valley. With Belmont slated to bring back nearly everyone from a team that went 26-4 overall and 18-2 in the OVC, the challenge for Murray State will be difficult – particularly considering they have to improve upon their fifth-place standing and catapult over Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, and the OVC champions in Morehead State.
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But the Racers’ historic success at the mid-major level – paired with the job that McMahon has done in his six seasons at the helm – indicates that Murray State should have little to no problems ushering in a new era of prosperity in the OVC. With their two best offensive weapons returning in Williams and Brown, and a new line of depth from the back-to-frontcourts, the Racers should once again contend in the OVC – and potentially, be one of the best mid-majors in college basketball in 2021-22.