On Friday, the Binghamton University Athletics department announced that junior forward Morgan Murphy, one of last year’s starters, will no longer play for the women’s basketball team. Murphy, who averaged 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2013-14, will remain in school, but is no longer part of the program.
“It was personal reasons,” BU head coach Linda Cimino said. “That is why she decided not to play. She is still going to remain a student here at Binghamton.”
Losing Murphy has the potential to be a huge blow to the Bearcat roster. Last season, Murphy, along with senior forward Sherae Swinson, was BU’s go-to player in offensive drives. Some of the most successful BU possessions ended with Murphy scores in the paint off of her post moves. Binghamton will now look to replace this offensive production when its official team practices commence on Oct. 6.
“We really haven’t put in our offensive plan or game strategy yet,” Cimino said. “What we are doing is developing the skill level of all of our players right now at the guard position and at the post position. I think right now we are really working on player development. We will put a game plan together once we start official practice … The ladies in the program right now are really committed to working hard and getting better.”
In addition to losing Murphy, the Bearcats are facing other blows to their roster. Guards Stephanie Jensen and Vaneeshia Paulk, both starters on the backcourt from the 2013-2014 season, are graduating, and sophomore guard Kandace Newry transferred to Tennessee Tech over the summer. This means BU returns only one starter from a team that finished 5-25. Now, freshmen Jasmine Sina, Imani Watkins and Asia Baker will be forced to play a large role in the upcoming season. Heading into a new season with such an inexperienced team may scare some coaches, but not Cimino.
“We are not in panic mode,” Cimino said. “The girls believe in the program, they believe in the system we are putting in. The young women that are part of the program now are on board, they are working hard … Honestly, I think that right now the girls are really excited, and eager to get started. They see that they are getting better and they are playing together as a team right now.”
The absence of Murphy now leaves BU with only 11 players on the current roster. However, only 10 can participate in games this season. Sophomore Alyssa James, who transferred from Caldwell this summer, must redshirt to adhere to the NCAA transfer policy. Cimino will continue to recruit the 2015 and 2016 classes to fill the void for upcoming seasons.
“Since I have gotten here we have had a recruiting plan,” Cimino said. “We have got a plan. We are looking for players who fit into our system. We are looking for really good players, really good students and high caliber individuals to be part of our program.”