LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky junior guard Taylor Murray (pictured) has been tabbed to the Preseason All-Southeastern Conference Second Team by league coaches, it was announced Wednesday, Nov. 1. League coaches tabbed the Wildcats to finish sixth overall in the conference.
Murray earned the honor due to her impressive sophomore season where she started all 30 games she played and averaged 12.2 points per game while leading the Wildcats with 3.9 assists per game. The 5-foot-6 guard ranked second on the team with 4.9 rebounds per game with a team-best 61 steals. During the season, Murray set or tied individual single-game highs in points (29), field-goals made (9), field-goals attempted (15), free-throws made (10), free-throws attempted (10), 3-point field goals made (2), 3-point field goals attempted (6), offensive rebounds (8), defensive rebounds (11), total rebounds (13), assists (11), blocks (1), steals (6) and minutes (44).
The native of Odenton, Md., scored 10 or more points 18 times last season with 15 or more points 11 times and three 20-plus scoring games. The guard had two point-rebound double-doubles last year with 11 points and 13 rebounds at LSU before 18 points and 13 rebounds at Missouri. Arguably her best game came against South Carolina where she scored a career-high 29 points with four rebounds and five assists. Murray flirted with a triple-double on multiple occasions with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds against Vanderbilt before 16 points, six steals, five assists and eight rebounds against Arkansas.
All 14 SEC head coaches ranked all 14 teams in predicted order of finish and voted for eight first-team players and eight second-team players. Coaches cannot vote for their own players.
2017-18 SEC Preseason Coaches’ Predictions
Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Mississippi State
3. Missouri
4. Texas A&M
5. Tennessee
6. Kentucky
7. LSU
8. Georgia
9. Alabama
10. Vanderbilt
11. Auburn
12. Ole Miss
13. Florida
14. Arkansas
Player of the Year
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
First Team All-SEC
Raigyne Moncrief, LSU
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Morgan William, Mississippi State
Sophie Cunningham, Missouri
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
Jaime Nared, Tennessee
Mercedes Russell, Tennessee
Khaalia Hillsman, Texas A&M
Second Team All-SEC
Caliya Robinson, Georgia
Taylor Murray, Kentucky
Shandricka Sessom, Ole Miss
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State
Cierra Porter, Missouri
Jordan Frericks, Missouri
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Anriel Howard, Texas A&M
Danni Williams, Texas A&M
