SE: Antonio Gordon, Montavious Murphy Playing Hard while Adjusting to K-State MBB
Oct 30, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
It was one game — an exhibition, at that — but K-State freshmen Antonio Gordon and Montavious Murphy provided a glimpse into what head coach Bruce Weber said should be a bright future for the duo in last Friday's 86-49 win against Emporia State.
"The two freshmen forwards," Weber said, "what a great start for them."
Gordon put up 16 points in 20 minutes against the Hornets. He converted 7-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-9 native of Lawton, Oklahoma also snagged seven rebounds.
"I just trusted my ability," he said. "The coaches trusted me, putting me in the game, and I just went out there confident, playing with energy."
Murphy, meanwhile, notched a double-double in his K-State debut with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He was not far from an even bigger night, too. Murphy, also 6-foot-9, went 3-for-11 from the floor, 2-for-4 from three and 2-for-4 at the free throw line.
"Both of them have done some nice things and, hopefully, they're going to give us enough this year to help us," Weber said at K-State's media day. "I think they're going to be very good players down the road."
Right now, the freshman duo is learning. And through the ups and downs of adjusting to a new level of basketball, Weber said they have kept one thing consistent: Effort.
"(They) play their butts off," he said. "They're not perfect, by any means. But I think they complement each other. Each one of them has their own strength."
Gordon, for instance, brings an aggressive confidence on offense. His 50-percent debut from 3-point range was evidence of that, as was the kiss he blew to K-State's student section after one of his makes.
"He can really shoot the basketball," Weber said. "One of the problems, and he's figuring it out, is he can't shoot it every time he touches it like in high school, try to make plays every time. He can make shots. He gives you a little bit of what Dean (Wade) did, spreading the defense.
"He's a very confident young man, very loose and, if he's going to make strides, he's got to be a little more disciplined in some of the stuff. But he's confident, he can score, he can do a lot of things. (His first game) was very positive. He spreads the court, gives you the look of that pick and pop."
Murphy, out of Spring, Texas, adds a more physical presence. Thus, his six offensive rebounds on Friday. This part of his game should only improve as he adds weight to his 215-pound frame.
"Monte plays a little more physical and did some great things," Weber said. "He's active, he can score. We watched him in high school, we thought he was pretty good. He was a little loose and wild in high school and he put it up a few too many times, but he's got some ability, got some talent. He's got to get stronger. He's got to be a little more disciplined and figure out the defensive part of our system, but that will come with time."
Both said have tried to accelerate that process of acclimating to a new level in somewhat similar ways.
"Definitely the veterans," Murphy said. "I try to learn the best I can from them, because I know the things that they've done for this program. I'm looking forward to just build off of that."
Gordon said one of the first things to learn is a new level of hard work. There's a reason the team uses #CultureOfEffort in its social media posts this season.
"I expected it to be hard when I came here so I think the adjustment has been going pretty smooth," Gordon said. "I've just been working hard, trying to work my way up onto the court and just playing my hardest every day in practice."
Murphy and Gordon will look to build on their first performance as K-State hosts Washburn for its final exhibition on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Less than a week after that, they will be suiting up for the regular season opener against North Dakota State on Tuesday, November 5 in Bramlage Coliseum.
"I think definitely all the butterflies are finally gone," Gordon said. "Before the game, we had the little pregame jitters because it was the first time we were playing in front of great fans. We were definitely excited at the same time to get out there, so I feel like that's out the window now. We'll be ready to play Wednesday as well."
It was one game — an exhibition, at that — but K-State freshmen Antonio Gordon and Montavious Murphy provided a glimpse into what head coach Bruce Weber said should be a bright future for the duo in last Friday's 86-49 win against Emporia State.
"The two freshmen forwards," Weber said, "what a great start for them."
Gordon put up 16 points in 20 minutes against the Hornets. He converted 7-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-9 native of Lawton, Oklahoma also snagged seven rebounds.
"I just trusted my ability," he said. "The coaches trusted me, putting me in the game, and I just went out there confident, playing with energy."
Murphy, meanwhile, notched a double-double in his K-State debut with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He was not far from an even bigger night, too. Murphy, also 6-foot-9, went 3-for-11 from the floor, 2-for-4 from three and 2-for-4 at the free throw line.
"Both of them have done some nice things and, hopefully, they're going to give us enough this year to help us," Weber said at K-State's media day. "I think they're going to be very good players down the road."
Right now, the freshman duo is learning. And through the ups and downs of adjusting to a new level of basketball, Weber said they have kept one thing consistent: Effort.
"(They) play their butts off," he said. "They're not perfect, by any means. But I think they complement each other. Each one of them has their own strength."
Gordon, for instance, brings an aggressive confidence on offense. His 50-percent debut from 3-point range was evidence of that, as was the kiss he blew to K-State's student section after one of his makes.
"He can really shoot the basketball," Weber said. "One of the problems, and he's figuring it out, is he can't shoot it every time he touches it like in high school, try to make plays every time. He can make shots. He gives you a little bit of what Dean (Wade) did, spreading the defense.
"He's a very confident young man, very loose and, if he's going to make strides, he's got to be a little more disciplined in some of the stuff. But he's confident, he can score, he can do a lot of things. (His first game) was very positive. He spreads the court, gives you the look of that pick and pop."
Murphy, out of Spring, Texas, adds a more physical presence. Thus, his six offensive rebounds on Friday. This part of his game should only improve as he adds weight to his 215-pound frame.
"Monte plays a little more physical and did some great things," Weber said. "He's active, he can score. We watched him in high school, we thought he was pretty good. He was a little loose and wild in high school and he put it up a few too many times, but he's got some ability, got some talent. He's got to get stronger. He's got to be a little more disciplined and figure out the defensive part of our system, but that will come with time."
Both said have tried to accelerate that process of acclimating to a new level in somewhat similar ways.
"Definitely the veterans," Murphy said. "I try to learn the best I can from them, because I know the things that they've done for this program. I'm looking forward to just build off of that."
Gordon said one of the first things to learn is a new level of hard work. There's a reason the team uses #CultureOfEffort in its social media posts this season.
"I expected it to be hard when I came here so I think the adjustment has been going pretty smooth," Gordon said. "I've just been working hard, trying to work my way up onto the court and just playing my hardest every day in practice."
Murphy and Gordon will look to build on their first performance as K-State hosts Washburn for its final exhibition on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Less than a week after that, they will be suiting up for the regular season opener against North Dakota State on Tuesday, November 5 in Bramlage Coliseum.
"I think definitely all the butterflies are finally gone," Gordon said. "Before the game, we had the little pregame jitters because it was the first time we were playing in front of great fans. We were definitely excited at the same time to get out there, so I feel like that's out the window now. We'll be ready to play Wednesday as well."
Players Mentioned
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