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Murray State basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Racers

By Harry Schroeder

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Head coach Matt McMahon of the Murray State Racers reacts against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Head coach Matt McMahon of the Murray State Racers reacts against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Tevin Brown (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Tevin Brown (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Older and balanced

McMahon’s lineup has more balance and is distinctly more experienced than last season. Transfers could take three of the starting positions and each of those players are proven commodities. Murray’s poor record in close games should turn around with this veteran squad.

Tevin Brown – Guard

Brown is climbing numerous Murray State all-time lists. The highly productive guard has scored 1,343 points, handed out 303 assists, and made 248 three-pointers. He is a two-time all OVC performer from Fairhope, Alabama. Brown can score (14.7 ppg), rebound (5.9 per game) dish (4.3 apg), and converted an OVC best, 2.8 triples per game.

The fourth-year Junior is still growing into his leadership role but is increasingly the face and the emotional leader of this Racers’ team.  He is third on the career three-point list behind Canaan (304) and Frank Allen with 251.

While he buries the three, he is also lethal in the open floor.

K.J. Williams – Forward

Williams is another two-time all-league pick that is climbing the MSU history charts. He is one of 15 Racers to have scored 1,000 points (1,054) and grab 600 rebounds (603) and will likely become just the tenth player to score that many points and haul in at least 700 career rebounds.

The 6’10, 245-pound forward converted 57% of his shots, including 41% from deep. Williams’ ability to score from long distance (26 triples) draws opposing centers away from the lane to create space for Brown and others to drive and score in the paint.

Williams led the Racers and was sixth in the OVC with a 15.6 scoring average. His 8.5 rebounds per game were the league’s third-best average.

Jordan Skipper-Brown – Forward

Skipper-Brown is a rare intra-conference transfer. Last season he played at Eastern Illinois where he posted 10.2 (scoring) and 5.6 (rebounding) averages. The 6’6 grad transfer was eighth in the OVC with 32 blocked shots and is a banging with the big guys kind of player.

He made 62% of his shots while attempting only 12 triples all season. McMahon says the Little Rock, Arkansas native is an outstanding athlete who plays above the rim.

Carter Collins – Guard

Collins is a 6’3 transfer from Davidson. He averaged 10.9 points per game and was third in the Atlantic Ten in assist-turnover ratio. The senior guard is an accomplished scorer and gives McMahon another long-range threat. He converted 39% from deep and 76% from the line.

McMahon says the lefty has a very high basketball IQ that doesn’t make very many mistakes and is an elite shooter.

Trae Hannibal – Guard

Hannibal comes to Murray from South Carolina where he played 17 minutes per game for Gamecock coach Frank Martin. He averaged six points, three rebounds, and two assists per game for the Southeastern Conference team.

The 6’2 sophomore has played in big-time arenas against the best competition in the nation. He scored 15 points in back-to-back games against Georgia and Missouri last year. During the back half of the season, he was playing increasing minutes for the Gamecocks.