Report: Iowa forward Kris Murray out for Big Ten opener vs. Wisconsin
Kris Murray has filled in for Iowa this season in the spot that his brother Keegan played a year ago. He has been a big part of their 7-2 start to the season and Top-25 offense. However, the Hawkeyes will have to get another win without him in the fold again.
That’s because, per Jon Rothstein, Murray will be out for Iowa’s Big Ten opener tonight against Wisconsin with a lower-body injury. He missed their previous game against Iowa State and will be on the sidelines again as his team hosts the Badgers.
Murray is averaging a double-double of 19.4 points and 10.1 rebounds on the season. He’s doing it efficiently too on 50% shooting from the field and 37.8% from deep.
Iowa was able to overcome Murray’s absence in their 75-56 win over a Top-25 Cyclone team earlier this week. Filip Rebraca led the way as one of four Hawkeye starters to score double-digit points in their star’s absence. Still, Fran McCaffrey will need his team to step up again if they want to start their conference slate 1-0 even with Murray out of the lineup.
WATCH: Controversial call against Nebraska sets up game-sealing Purdue free throws
With 13 seconds to play in overtime, Purdue appeared to turn the ball over at center court against Nebraska and set up a potential chance at a game-winning basket. But the officials called a foul on C.J. Wilcher, sending Boilermakers guard Braden Smith to the free throw line to seal the game.
The replay might have shown something different, though.
The Big Ten Network broadcast showed a slow-motion replay of the play and it appeared Smith lost the ball before a foul could’ve been committed. Even the broadcast team of Jeff Levering and Stephen Bardo sounded off on the call, which led to back-to-back made free throws from Smith to give Purdue the 65-62 victory.
With the win, Purdue improves to a perfect 10-0 on the season, including 2-0 in Big Ten play. Nebraska, meanwhile, is now 6-5 overall and 0-2 in league play.