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Virginia Basketball: Loss of Trey Murphy creates questions for 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 25, 2020; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Trey Murphy III (25) reacts after his three-point basket against the Towson Tigers in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2020; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Trey Murphy III (25) reacts after his three-point basket against the Towson Tigers in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of the biggest offseason pickups a year ago was Trey Murphy going to Virginia Basketball. The 6’9 transfer forward from Rice was an effective starter at the Conference USA level and his game had a good chance to translate over to the ACC.

Things worked out well for both sides, as Murphy opened the season with a season-high 21 points on six made three-pointers against Towson off the bench. He never scored that many points again but the wing was promoted to the starting lineup and was a consistent double-digit contributor and three-point threat, making a career-high 43%, while also making a whopping 38/41 (93%) from the charity stripe.

Murphy was third on the team with 13.3 ppg and 3.4 rpg and was third on the team in scoring. But with both Jay Huff and Sam Hauser graduating, the sophomore forward was set to be arguably the best returning piece for the Cavaliers next season. However, things have changed for both the player and the team.

https://twitter.com/Treymurphyiii/status/1407074973739532296

In today’s NBA, it’s all about three-point shooting and spacing, while also having the size the defend at a good level. Murphy, who at 6’9 and can play three different positions on the court, is someone who NBA scouts love and it looks as if he’s a likely first round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

For Virginia though, losing him is a tough blow. The first point is that there isn’t a realistic transfer target still left in the portal that can replace what Murphy can do, so the current roster is who they’ll have to work with. Former four-star wing and 6’7 sharpshooter Kody Stattmann will be due to get more minutes now after playing just four games last season. Incoming freshman Taine Murry could be an impact newcomer, while the Cavaliers also likely will play three-guard lineups, with Kihei Clark, Reece Beekman, and Indiana transfer Armaan Franklin making up the starting unit.

With talented East Carolina star transfer Jayden Gardner playing at the power forward spot and Kadin Schedrik and Francisco Cáffaro making up the center position, the lack of three-point shooting stands out. The big men don’t spread the floor, and neither does Gardner. And among the guards, Clark shot 32% from deep, Beekman was at 24%, while Franklin did break out with 42% while at Indiana. He’s going to have to replicate that at Virginia next season to give the offense enough spacing to be good, particularly since they play at such a low pace.

Next. WTE ACC power rankings for 2021-22. dark

Virginia Basketball lost a lot of talent and with Murphy officially gone, there are more questions than answers concerning the upcoming season. But it’s been like this before for the Tony Bennett-led team and they still find a way to be at the top of the ACC. But unless someone unexpected breaks out, the Cavaliers will have their work cut out for them.

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