Big news for Kentucky’s freshman backcourt: De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk were just named to the midseason watch lists for both the Oscar Robertson Trophy, given annually to the national player of the year; and the Wayman Tisdale Award, given annually to the top freshman in college basketball. Here are the watch lists for both awards:
| 2016-17 USBWA MEN’S MIDSEASON WATCH LISTS | |
| Oscar Robertson Trophy (Men’s National Player of the Year) | |
| Dwayne Bacon, Florida State Lonzo Ball, UCLA Joel Berry II, North Carolina De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky Markelle Fultz, Washington Ethan Happ, Wisconsin Josh Hart, Villanova Marcus Keene, Central Michigan Luke Kennard, Duke Jock Landale, Saint Mary’s | TJ Leaf, UCLA Lauri Markkanen, Arizona Kelan Martin, Butler Frank Mason III, Kansas Malik Monk, Kentucky Johnathan Motley, Baylor Alec Peters, Valparaiso Caleb Swanigan, Purdue Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga |
| Wayman Tisdale Award (Men’s National Freshman Player of the Year) | |
| Lonzo Ball, UCLA De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky Markelle Fultz, Washington Jonathan Isaac, Florida State Josh Jackson, Kansas TJ Leaf, UCLA | Lauri Markkanen, Arizona Malik Monk, Kentucky Justin Patton, Creighton Shamorie Ponds, St. |