Kansas Basketball: Examining the aftermath of Kansas-Kansas State brawl
By Bryan Mauro
What happens to Silvio De Sousa?
What does Kansas do with De Sousa? It was mentioned earlier how he is an enigma. That is the best word to describe him as a player. His tenure at Kansas has been mired by controversy and he is now on pace to be suspended for more games than he has played while in Lawrence.
The big man was a prized recruit out of IMG Academy and decided to Kansas. When he committed everyone had visions of a dominant frontcourt with two skilled players and two rim protectors and the potential for two first-round NBA type talents. The exact opposite has happened for the sophomore from Angola. As mentioned his Jayhawk career has been mired by controversy from the second he stepped on the floor.
It was discovered last year that the guardian for De Sousa took money while he was IMG Academy and the NCAA punished the big man by deeming him ineligible for one year. This season the big man has not been able to carve out any playing time. The playing time he does get has not been notable. Often not registering counting stats. Since he has arrived on campus the prized recruit has averaged eight minutes a game and right around three points per game.
De Sousa not living up to his lofty expectations is one of the many reasons why last night went like it did. It has been suggested that yesterday was his breaking point. After everything that had happened to him in a short time, he exploded. The other explanation is that he is a 21-year kid who made a bad decision. Often in a fight, the only thing you are thinking about is your own protection. When you have an entire team coming out you will ill intentions your fight or flight kicks in and your number one goal is going to be to protect yourself. With that being said I do not condone what De Sousa did, and Kansas is right to suspend him for a long time.
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I do not subscribe to the same line of thinking that Silvio is done at Kansas. He may not play again this year and that goes without saying, but coach Self put his reputation and career essentially on the line for De Sousa. He isn’t going to give up that easily. De Sousa is still a talented player and once he gets his time to shine he is going to do exactly that.