🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Now that Silvio has been cleared lets talk about his main role in next year's team. It is easy to say that Self will start him next to Dok as a 4. As we know the role of 4 spot has evolved over the years, more outside shooting even 3 pt. shooting and protecting the perimeter on D.

Has Silvio incorporated outside shot in his game? Can he shoot 35%+ from trey spot? If not what will be KU's game plan when he is playing with Dok.

Could Self play Silvio more without Dok at 5 spot?

I've penciled in Silvio for 30 minutes at the 4. Who's going to stop Silvio and Dok in the paint? We don't need 3s from the 4 and 5 spots-just dunks and put backs. I have Dave as Dok's backup, not Silvio. RC

Both. I believe he'll start at the 4, though. Silvio didn't attempt a 3-pointer as a freshman and I haven't seen or heard anything to make me believe that he'll be prolific from 3 as a junior. What we did see from Silvio as a freshman is that he's a very good rebounder (his freshman numbers exrapolated to about 17 rebounds per game), so I'm hoping he is somewhere near the rim where he can give us 2nd chance points on offense. I'm also expecting him to be used as a screener in Dotson/RJ pick-and-rolls ad nauseam, using his quickness to roll to the rim for easy lobs or creating open floaters for Dotson/RJ. Occasional jumpshot or maybe 3-pointer from Silvio, but unless he's making that shot with some frequency, I don't think it'll be Kansas' most efficient form of offense.

KirkIsMyHinrich said:

Both. I believe he'll start at the 4, though. Silvio didn't attempt a 3-pointer as a freshman and I haven't seen or heard anything to make me believe that he'll be prolific from 3 as a junior. What we did from Silvio as a freshman is that he's a very good rebounder (his freshman numbers exrapolated to about 17 rebounds per game), so I'm hoping he is somewhere near the rim where he can give us 2nd chance points on offense. I'm also expecting him to be used as a screener in Dotson/RJ pick-and-rolls ad nauseam, using his quickness to roll to the rim for easy lobs or creating open floaters for Dotson/RJ. Occasional jumpshot or maybe 3-pointer from Silvio, but unless he's making that shot with some frequency, I don't think it'll be Kansas' most efficient form of offense.

So you think that Dotson is going to return? I do not.... But I have been wrong on countless occasions this year, so what do I know?

@Marco I don't know or claim to know. I hope he's back.

I know the game is changing and moving towards more 3s, but does anyone else get frustrated when a player shoots a 3 and there is not one teammate inside the arc to rebound? I see this often with NBA teams. One and dones from beyond the arc frustrate me.

@stoptheflop I think Norm Roberts agrees with you.

“He practiced every day with us, took part in individual workouts,” Roberts said of 2018-19. “Even though he was on the scout team at practice, he had to go against those other guys (starters) all the time. We tried to make Silvio first option on the scout team. We played a lot through him to let him become more aggressive. We did a lot of that with him.”

Can he shoot?

Roberts said De Sousa since his freshman year, “has improved his shot. He can shoot from 15 to 18 feet pretty well. It’s something he has to work on, get better at. He’s not a knockdown three-point shooter. That’s not his game.

I thought he was a 5...

Roberts does not label De Sousa a 4 or a 5.

“He’s one of our bigs. The 4 and the 5 do the same thing,” Roberts said. “We can play him multiple positions. He can do so many different things. Udoka will play close (to basket) whereas Silvio can play somewhere away from the basket. David, Mitch ... all our bigs can do a lot of different things.”

Can he keep up with stretch 4s away from the basket?

“Silvio will be the dimension of strength and athleticism we did not have enough of last year when Doke went down. He (De Sousa) brings us rebounding on both ends and can switch ball screens and guard some out there a bit. He has to get better at that (defense).

So, it appears to me that Silvio will get the opportunity to play the 4 along side Doke, provided he can defend. Also, Doke averages around 20 minutes a game, so I think Silvio will get plenty of playing time.

Main role will be as a 4 alongside Doke and Dave. But he’ll be a small ball 5 depending on matchup.