Murray State’s Brown and Williams – Seniors Lead

Seniors Lead Historic Season

(St. Louis, MO) – Tevin Brown and K.J. Williams are the seniors leading Murray State’s historic season. At 24-2 and 14-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, this is a season for the ages. Murray State is 21st in the national rankings and in the top 30 in the NET. Brown and Williams seemingly take turns wining the league’s ‘Player of the Week‘ award and these seniors lead.

Williams and Brown have each etched their names in the Racer record books.

Brown recently became both the Murray State and Ohio Valley all-time leader in three-point baskets. Williams eclipsed the 800 rebound plateau to become the third Racer ever to score 1,500 career points and grab 800 caroms.

This week alone, Williams was the OVC weekly honoree and received national ‘Player of the Week‘ awards from CollegeInsider.com and the USBWA. They are second (Williams) and third (Brown) in the OVC scoring race. Williams is second to Morehead State’s Johni Broome in rebounding and Brown leads the league in three-point baskets (81).

While four games remain, the Racers are a virtual lock for the double-bye at the OVC Championships. Belmont (22-5, 12-2) could conceivably catch MSU for the regular season title. The two league titans play in Murray on February 24. Belmont’s other three games are all at home.

Rivals and Teammates

Brown has played and started in 117 Racer games, while Williams has participated in 116. They’ve combined to score 3,280 points and grab 1,426 rebounds. They have left their mark on the OVC. When they play Belmont next week, they will continue a rivalry with equally historic players in the Bruin program.

Bruin seniors Grayson Murphy and Nick Muszynski have spent four years in head-to-head competition with Brown and Williams. Murphy is the OVC’s all-time assists leader and could finish his career on top of the all-time steals list too. ‘Moose’ is eighth on the league’s all-time blocked shots list and recently scored his 1,800th point.

The numbers are amazing but Brown says the Belmont rivalry and his showdowns with Murphy are special. As these seniors lead they recognize when their teammates improve and contribute.

 

 

Williams loves his friendly rivalry with Muszynski and Morehead’s Broome. The 6’10 center says his improved outside shooting can be a factor during those low post battles.

 

 

Williams says young front court teammates D.J. Burns and Nicholas McMullen have improved and  are bringing added weaponry to the Racer lineup.

 

 

Will The Super Seniors Lead Next Year? 

While we are enjoying this season’s historic ride, we have to wonder about Murray State’s move to the Missouri Valley Conference. The OVC is KenPom’s 23rd ranked conference and the Valley is eleventh. Due to extra (covid) eligibility both of these stars could return for Murray’s first year in the MVC!

But will they?

Former Racer guards Cameron Payne, Ja Morant, Isaiah Canaan, Shaq Buchanan have had some outstanding professional basketball success. Brown has followed in their footsteps as the next great Murray State guard. As he concludes his four years of typical eligibility, he has the option to return next season. When the NCAA added one-year of eligibility to all college basketball student-athletes last season it opened that door for Brown and others.

Brown says the current team plays with a ‘chip on its shoulder’ and he hasn’t fully decided about next season, saying he could return.

 

 

Brown redshirted his first season with an injury, so next year would be his sixth at Murray State.

Williams, who changed his number this season, is one of three Racers to have accumulated 1,500 points and 800 rebounds. He could return next season too. Could these two ‘super’ seniors lead Murray State into a successful season in the Missouri Valley Conference.

 

 

 

What’s Left?

Murray State has four regular season games left before the Ohio Valley Conference championships and other postseason basketball. Barring injury, these two will continue to re-write record books, accumulate individual honors and hopefully have much basketball success in March.

Whether they come back to Murray or turn to professional ball next year, they have carried the Murray State leadership torch well. Neither are thinking about the future right now. They are focused on closing out the OVC regular season title and on doing some damage in March.

When seniors lead their teams with this kind of focus, typically good things happen.

Do Good