30) ERIC MURDOCK

30. Eric Murdock: Providence – (1987-91) Raritan, NJ

Four years: 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 3.2 spg, 35.4% 3FG, 78.4% FT

Second Team Consensus All-American (1991)

Few point guards in the history of college basketball proved to be such a force on both offense and defense as the 6’1” Murdock, one of the most underrated players not only in Big East history, but also NCAA history.

“(A) solid two way point guard (who) could defend as well as he could score,” recalled former Big East announcer, now voice of the Boston Celtics, Mike Gorman.

Murdock started his career off well, averaging 10.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.2 spg, 35.5% from three point range, and 73.8% from the line. As a sophomore, Murdock raised his game by averaging 16.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.9 apg, 3.3 spg, 34.9% from the field, and 76.2% from the line As a junior, Murdock saw his numbers drop to 15.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.8 spg, 36.5% from three, and 76.2% from the line. But Murdock was clearly ready to make his senior season count as he exploded with one of the best single seasons in Big East history, averaging 25.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, and 3.5 spg, while shooting 35.0% from three point land and 81.2% from the line. His 435 points in conference play that season was a record that has since been broken by Donyell Marshall and his 27.2 ppg average in conference is only 0.2 ppg behind Dan Callandrillo for most in conference history. His 48 point game that season against Pitt (in a 13 point loss), is still the best single scoring game in conference history, and that came three weeks after scoring 40 points against Seton Hall, making him the only player in conference history to score 40 or more points twice in a Big East game. The month prior, Murdock scored 45 points against Arizona, which is the highest single game total for a Big East player outside of the conference. Amazingly, the season only culminated in consensus Second Team All-American honors.

For his career Murdock totaled 2,021 points and a then NCAA record 376 steals, since broken by fellow Friar John Linehan. His 3.2 spg over his career is the 4th best in NCAA history, but 1st for a four year player, and his 1,145 conference points is 14th all-time.

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