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Bruce Pearl compares Kris Murray to Brandon Miller ahead of NCAA Tournament matchup
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Bruce Pearl has a good understanding of the type of player that Auburn will be facing in Iowa’s Kris Murray later this week.
On Wednesday, Pearl told reporters that Murray reminds him of Alabama freshman Brandon Miller. Like Miller, Murray has exceptional skill for his size and is a threat to shoot the ball.
“Yes, Murray is a tough matchup, he’s a 6’9″ that’s longer,” Pearl said. “I don’t know if he’s 6’9″ or 6’10”. But he plays longer than that. And he’s a guard.
“That makes him a real tough matchup, and potentially the way they use him, a mismatch. We’ve played against Brandon Miller who also was a tough matchup. Kris has ability more inside. We played — and we’ve got — we’ll have our hands full because he can do things inside and out.”
In 2 games against Auburn this season, Miller scored 30 points on 8-of-24 shooting. He was able to get to the free throw line, but otherwise, Auburn did a good job of holding Miller in-check.
If Iowa is going to beat Auburn, it will need a big game from Murray. Murray has delivered all season long for the Hawkeyes — he’s averaging 20.4 points per game on 48.4% shooting.
Iowa is playing in its 3rd consecutive NCAA Tournament. However, the Hawkeyes haven’t reached the 2nd round since 2021. Their last Sweet 16 appearance came back in 1999.
Tipoff vs. Auburn is at 6:50 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.