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Silvio De Sousa Suspended for 12 Games; Kansas’ 2020 March Madness Odds Still +1200 on Average

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in College Basketball

Updated Mar 30, 2020 · 12:24 PM PDT

Kansas Jayhawks logo on the big-screen
The Kansas Jayhawks will be without big-man Silvio De Sousa for the next 12 games due to suspension. Photo by Phil Roeder (flickr).
  • Kansas junior forward Silvio De Sousa has been suspended 12 games for his role in a brawl with Kansas State
  • De Sousa , an Angola native is averaging 8.4 minutes, 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds a game this season
  • Kansas is 15-3 and ranked No. 3 in the country following its 81-60 victory over Kansas State on Tuesday

On Tuesday night, the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats got into an on-court brawl at the end of their game at Phogg Allen Fieldhouse, an 81-60 Jayhawks victory.

On Wednesday morning, it was announced that one of the main instigators, Kansas forward Silvio De Sousa, would be suspended for 12 games by the Big 12.

Despite the new, Kansas’ odds to win the NCAA Tournament are still +1200 on average and as short as +800.

Odds to Win 2020 NCAA Tournament

Team Odds
Gonzaga +800
Kansas +800
Michigan State +900
Baylor +1000
Duke +1000
Louisville +1000
San Diego State +1400
Kentucky +1500
Dayton +1600
Oregon +1600

Odds taken Jan. 22. 

The fracas occurred in the dying seconds of the game. De Sousa was dribbling out the clock when Kansas State’s DaJuan Gordon stripped him of the ball. De Sousa then raced down the court and blocked Gordon’s layup attempt. Gordon was knocked to the floor during the block and De Sousa the stood over the freshman and taunted him.

That led to both benches emptying and an ensuing scrum.

YouTube video

So far, as mentioned, De Sousa’s suspension hasn’t moved the needle with the oddsmakers as seen in the 2020 March Madness championship odds.

De Sousa’s Impact Minimal

While Kansas is 15-3 and ranked No. 3, De Sousa’s impact has been minimal. The junior forward from Angola is playing just 8.4 minutes a game and averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds.

De Sousa has scored in double figures only once in 18 games. He had 11 points in a 112-57 rout of Monmouth on Nov. 15.

YouTube video

DeSousa ranks ninth on the team in both minutes played and scoring after sitting out all last season because of an NCAA investigation.

As a freshman in 2017-18, he averaged 4.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8.8 minutes while playing in 20 of 39 games for a team that made it to the Final Four.

De Sousa, though, has showed immense potential at times.

More Notable Off The Court

De Sousa has made more headlines for what has happened off the court than on during his time at Kansas.

DeSousa’s name surfaced as part of an FBI investigation into college basketball in October 2018. That, in turn, led to an NCAA investigation that resulted in a notice of allegations last September that outlined major violations tied to recruiting in men’s basketball.

Kansas appealed the violations and the NCAA is not expected to render a final decision until later this year.

The NCAA also suspended De Sousa for two seasons, though that penalty was reduced to just last season upon appeal.

McCormick Also Suspended

Another Kansas player who was suspended was sophomore forward David McCormick, who got a two-game ban. He has averages of 7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds and will sit out games against Tennessee on Saturday (Jan. 25) and Oklahoma State on Jan. 27.

Considering De Sousa was holding a stool over his head at one point during the fight, it would not have been a surprise if he had been suspended for the rest of the season. Instead, he will be eligible to return March 7 for the regular-season finale at Texas Tech. Kansas assistant coach Jerrance Howard moved quickly to grab the stool from De Sousa’s hands.

Kansas’ top three scorers all avoided discipline – sophomore guard Devon Dotson (18.2 points per game), senior center Udoka Azubuike (12.9 ppg) and sophomore guard Ochai Agbaji (10.3 ppg).

Much Ado About Nothing

De Sousa came to Kansas with a lot of hype. However, most of the headlines he has generated while with the Jayhawks have been for the wrong reason.

Kansas has won 15 of its 18 games this season without getting much of a contribution from De Sousa. Missing him for 12 games really shouldn’t hurt the Jayhawks’ hopes of winning their first national title since 2008.

If Kansas’ odds eventually do get longer because of the suspension, the Jayhawks would represent a good value play.

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