This summer, for example, he was wandering through a pharmacy in South Bend and spotted a stranger who had a goatee and bleached-blond hair. Murphy liked the look, but he can't grow a goatee. So he just dyed his hair. It turned orange. That was good to hear.
Sophistication is overrated.
An NBA coach recently asked me what pro player Murphy most resembles, and I couldn't really come up with an answer. As a player, he's hard to classify. A lot of big guys can step out and hit the three, but the 6-10 Murphy is unusual in that he can mix it up under the boards with the best of them. Look for his numbers to be a little down this season, however, because new coach Mike Brey, the former Delaware head coach and Duke assistant, wants more balance. That should be easier to attain with 6-8 junior transfer Ryan Humphrey on board.