A Look Back at Purdue Basketball: Liam Murphy

TL;DR

Liam Murphy, a forward for Purdue Basketball, had a limited impact during his one-year stint, with sporadic appearances and a brief moment in the NCAA Tournament. He was initially expected to fill a shooting role after key transfers.

Key points

Liam Murphy played for Purdue Basketball during the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
He had sporadic appearances and limited impact throughout the season.
Murphy was expected to be a three-point shooter for the team.
He shot 42.3% from three at North Florida before joining Purdue.

North FloridaLiam MurphyPurdue BoilermakersNCAA Tournament 2026

Mar 25, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Liam Murphy (5) during a practice session ahead of the west regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

I feel like this look back for Liam Murphy is a bit of “Liam Murphy, we hardly knew ye.” Our last profile was on the one year transfer of Oscar Cluff, who undoubtedly had a huge impact on this past season. He was personally responsible for the win at Nebraska and he had a gigantic role in Purdue’s win over national champion Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament final.

Murphy was also a one-year hired gun like Cluff, but he unfortunately did not have as much of an impact. In fact, by the end of the season his appearances were very sporadic. I remember being at the Ohio State game in Columbus and, desperate to provide a spark to a languid team, he got major minutes in the second half. He can also say he got to play in the NCAA Tournament, as he entered in the final five minutes of the first round blowout over Queens and even hit a three-pointer.

That final glimpse was the original role we envisioned for him. After losing Camden Heide and Myles Colvin in the transfer portal coach Painter went in search of a guy who could come off the bench and shoot threes in their stead. The role was open, and given the nature of Purdue’s offense, the shots would be there. Murphy shot 42.3% from three (104 of 246) last season at North Florida, so a 6’8” sharpshooter looked like the perfect addition.

It never worked out.

Murphy saw extensive action in the first two games of the season and scored a season best 11 in the 87-77 win over Oakland. He finished that game by going 4 of 7 from the floor and hitting three triples in just 10 minutes of action. In fact, his three just before halftime tied the game so then No. 1 Purdue didn’t head into the locker room trailing a lowly Horizon League team.

Q&A

What was Liam Murphy's role on the Purdue Basketball team?

Liam Murphy was expected to be a sharpshooter off the bench for Purdue Basketball after key players transferred.

How did Liam Murphy perform during the NCAA Tournament?

Liam Murphy played in the final five minutes of Purdue's first-round game against Queens, where he scored a three-pointer.

What were Liam Murphy's shooting statistics from his previous season?

Liam Murphy shot 42.3% from three-point range, making 104 of 246 attempts during his last season at North Florida.

Why did Purdue Basketball recruit Liam Murphy?

Purdue recruited Liam Murphy to fill the shooting void left by Camden Heide and Myles Colvin, aiming for a player who could contribute from the bench.