Fox-Ball Matchup Intriguing, Not All-Important

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Malik Monk was asked a question on Thursday that had him stuck between two identities: basketball fan and Kentucky basketball player.

The question was this: Hypothetically, if he weren’t playing in it, would a game featuring a matchup between De’Aaron Fox and Lonzo Ball be exactly the kind he’d want to watch?

Reflexively, he answered as a player.

“No, we don’t match up like that,” Monk said.

Then the fan in him couldn’t help but speak up.

“But yeah,” Monk said. “They’re both great players. They both go at each other. It’s going to be a great game so, yeah, I would.”

Fox is the star freshman point guard for second-seeded Kentucky (31-5), while Ball fills the same role for No. 3 UCLA (31-4). The two players will face off Friday at 9:39 p.m. ET in Memphis, Tennessee, in the Sweet 16. They’ll do so with a healthy respect for one another, not to mention a shared friendship.

“He’s a fantastic passer, he rebounds, he’s a big guard, very crafty, can shoot from deep,” Fox said. “He’s as (good) as advertised.”

Ball has taken college basketball by storm this season, leading the nation in assists (7.6 per game) while averaging 14.7 points per game on 55.6-percent shooting from the field. Fox boasts averages of 16.1 points and 4.6 assists.

“De’Aaron is a great player, one of the best guards in the country hands down,” Ball said. “It’s a tough matchup, got to come ready to play because I know he is.”

The 6-foot-6 Ball is the rare player who will have a significant size advantage over the 6-3 Fox at point guard. He also has the edge as an outside shooter, in spite of Fox’s late-season improvement. Though he has an unorthodox release, Ball has made 79-of-188 (42 percent) from 3-point range this season.

“It’s difficult to time and then it sort of comes across, so if you have your hand straight up you can hit his wrist or something like that,” Fox said. “It’s hard to contest a shot like that. He likes the step-back and when he steps back it’s almost impossible to block it. Just try to contest and make it difficult.”

Fox was actually pretty effective on Ball the first time the two faced off in a 97-92 win for UCLA on Dec. 3 in Rupp Arena. Ball committed six turnovers – the second most he’s had in a game all season – and made only 2-of-8 3-pointers in scoring 14 points.

“We’re definitely different players,” Fox said. “His vision is ridiculous. Hopefully I get to the basket better. Just trying to contain him. Try to tip passes. He can make a special play seem easy. Just try to limit those things.”

Fox actually had a better day than Ball in that game, putting up 20 points and nine assists against two turnovers, but Ball’s team got the win. That serves as an important reminder that no matter how titillating the point-guard matchup might be, its winner won’t automatically advance.

“We’ve played teams with good point guards,” Fox said. “Frank Mason, Kasey Hill, Lonzo. We’ve played teams like that. You want to step up for the challenge, but they always have good teams and it’s a team game. One person is not going to win the game.”

So, while, the rest of the world is watching a showdown between two of the best point guards in the country, those two point guards will be focused on other things.

“It’s not in my mind,” Fox said. “Just go out and play basketball.”