by NASSAU, Bahamas — No. 1 Kentucky ran its record to 7-0 Monday night with a 115-69 victory over Arizona State in a regular-season game played at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.
“They were spectacular,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. “I don’t think I’ve seen a faster team in my year’s coaching. How relentless they are with their energy, pursuit of the basketball and how they get up and down the floor. They play the right way, for each other. Those are characteristics of an elite teams.”
Freshman guard De’Aaron Fox led the rout by recording the school’s first triple-double since Chris Mills in 1988. His stat line of 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists also marks only the second triple-double in the program’s storied history.
“I didn’t even know that’s how long it’s been,” Fox said. “But it felt good.”
For the longest time, Fox was stuck on nine assists until a 3-pointer by Malik Monk with 4:44 remaining pushed UK to a 101-62 lead.
“Malik made a terrific shot,” Fox said. “My mom told me to tell him thanks.”
Kentucky was led in scoring by Monk’s with 23 points. Sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe added 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting in his first game back after missing two games due to a severe muscle bruise.
In all, six players scored in double figures for Kentucky. After Monk, Briscoe and Fox, freshman forward Bam Adebayo had 12 points and nine rebounds, senior forward Derek Willis (Arapaho/Pawnee/Creek) had 11 points and freshman forward Wenyen Gabriel had 10.
