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Jordan Murphy's real intrigue in what he's not doing -- yet

The Gophers freshman has finished with double-doubles in each of the last two games, but he's also missed some opportunities for more.

February 24, 2016 at 6:03PM
Minnesota's Jordan Murphy, left, eyes the basket as Rutgers' D.J. Foreman watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 83-61.
Minnesota's Jordan Murphy, left, eyes the basket as Rutgers' D.J. Foreman watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 83-61. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Don't look now but Minnesota freshman Jordan Murphy might be hitting a new stride as the season draws to a close.

The 6-6 forward followed up his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor with another double-double in the Gophers' 83-61 win over Rutgers on Tuesday night. And still, he wasn't the story of the evening.

If fact, Murphy has been steady enough that we've almost grown to expect such stellar performances. He's had eight double-doubles this season and been a consistent force on the boards and as a post scorer in most games, putting up double digits in ten of the last 11 games and grabbing six or more rebounds in nine of those.

Now in the last two, Murphy has combined for 36 points and 25 rebounds. Last night, the freshman was a difference maker late, helping to keep pushing the Gophers' momentum and dunking four times.

But the most impressive thing about Murphy, for now, might be what he's NOT doing.

On Tuesday, the forward went 8-for-17 from the field, leaving a potential of 19 points on the floor. As coach Richard Pitino has pointed out many times, the points Murphy is getting are mostly the result of scrapping, fighting, pure will. His athleticism allows him to get putbacks and dunks that others wouldn't have access to. But his moves to the basket aren't totally polished yet and he's missing some easy buckets that way. And while foul trouble has been a lot better lately, it's slowed his aggressiveness all season. Basically, Murphy is dominating despite not really knowing what he's doing out there.

Assuming he can continue to develop and improve in those areas, the ceiling could be quite high for this Texas native. When he moves past those hurdles, Murphy has the ability to be nearly unstoppable under the hoop.

Pitino agrees.

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"I think when he gets really good on the low block, he's going to be a bit of a matchup issue in this conference," he said after Tuesday's victory. "He's extremely productive for a freshman. He kind of just makes plays happen. He was showing great leadership today, too, in the huddles. He was really talking, communicating, trying to bring everybody together."

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