After the 2016–17 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, he was an All-Big Ten Conference third team selection by the Big Ten coaches and media. The national media recognized him as a second team Associated Press All-Big Ten selection. Although teammates Amir Coffey and Nate Mason were selected preseason All-Big Ten, Murphy was not. However, he was a Karl Malone Award preseason watchlist selectee. Murphy opened the season with a career-high 35 points and added 15 rebounds against USC Upstate. On the strength of 7 consecutive double-doubles for the 2017–18 Minnesota Golden Gophers, he won the first three Big Ten Player of the Week awards (a feat last achieved by Evan Turner in the 2009–10 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season). On January 6, because of first half foul trouble Murphy needed 9 second-half rebounds including one with 8 seconds remaining against Indiana to tie Tim Duncan's NCAA record for most consecutive double-doubles to start a season (17). On January 10, Murphy's streak ended against Northwestern. Following the 2017–18 Big Ten Conference men's basketball regular season, Murphy was named an All-Big Ten second team selection by the media and third team selection by the coaches. Murphy was a preseason All-Big Ten selection by the Big Ten Media. Prior to the season he was one of nine Big Ten players named to the preseason John R. Wooden Award watchlist. Murphy was named MVP of the November Vancouver Showcase after averaging 15.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in wins over Texas A&M, Santa Clara and Washington. In the Santa Clara win on November 20, Murphy surpassed Mychal Thompson as the Minnesota Golden Gopher career rebound leader. Murphy tied Jim Brewer as the Minnesota all-time double-double producer with 24 points and 16 rebounds on November 30 against Oklahoma State and surpassed him two games later on December 5 with 18 points and 13 rebounds against Nebraska. On January 9, Murphy was one of 7 Big Ten athletes included on the Wooden Award Men's Midseason Top 25 watchlist. On January 22, Murphy was one of 4 Big Ten athletes named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award Top 15 midseason watchlist. After leading Minnesota to a win over (#19/21) Iowa on January 27 with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, he moved past Joe Barry Carroll into second place on the all-time Big Ten career rebound list (behind Jerry Lucas). On January 28, Murphy earned Co-Big Ten Player of the Week recognition, thus becoming the first Golden Gopher to earn 5 Big Ten Player of the Week recognitions.