Are Monk and Fox the best freshmen backcourt of Calipari-era?
By Matt Green
2016-17 – Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox
This season, the hype train once again rolled through Lexington. For the sixth consecutive year the Wildcats were ranked in the top three of the preseason polls.
After losing Tyler Ulis, the SEC player of the year, and Jamal Murray, who averaged 20 points the previous season, Kentucky was once again starting two freshmen in the backcourt.
Murray’s 20-point average was the most ever by a Kentucky player under Calipari. But not for long. Malik Monkis averaging 21.7 points this year and shooting over 40 percent from three.
The freshman has gone for 20+ points 18 times this year, including 47 in the 103-100 thriller over North Carolina.
And De’Aaron Fox is equally as spectacular. Fox’s 15.4 points rank 8th in the SEC, while his 5.2 assists lead the conference.
Monk and Fox’s 37.1 points per game together are by far the most of any of Calipari’s freshmen backcourt duos. Wall and Bledsoe averaged 27.9, Knight and Lamb averaged 29.6, while the Harrison twins combined for 24.6.
Ultimately these guys will be judged for what they do in the postseason, and with a 25-5 record and 9-4 record against the RPI top 50, the Wildcats are ready for another postseason run.