The seventh in a nine-part series reviewing Arkansas basketball in 2018-19.
DESI SILLS
Position: Guard
Class: Freshman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 196
Stats: 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.6 turnovers, .6 steals
44.1 percent FG, 40.6 percent 2-point FG, 47.6 percent 3-point FG, 70.9 percent free throws
Per 40: 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.7 turnovers, 1.4 steals
SEC stats: 5.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 turnovers, .5 steals
40.6 percent FG, 35.1 percent 2-point FG, 46.9 percent 3-point FG, 70 percent free throws
Best month: March - 9.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 1.2 steals
50 percent FG, 26.7 percent 2-point FG, 66.7 percent 3-point FG, 75 percent free throws
Worst month: January - 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.8 turnovers, .2 steals
35.5 percent FG, 37.5 percent 2-point FG, 33.3 percent 3-point FG, 62.5 percent free throws
Strengths
• Got better as the year went on. As you can tell by the March numbers, Sills closed his freshman season with his best month of basketball. No one on the roster, in my opinion, improved his stock with fans entering next year more than Sills did over the final nine games. He started in Arkansas' last eight games and played 20-plus minutes in the last nine after seeing the floor that often just twice in the first 25 games of the year.
In Sills' eight starts, Arkansas' offense was strong with him on the floor. It scored at a 1.10 point-per-possession clip and shot 44 percent from 3-point range versus 1.05 PPP and 36.1 percent when he sat. In the 11 games he played 20-plus minutes, Arkansas shot 41 percent from deep and, defensively, turned teams over at a 25.1 percent rate when he was in the lineup.
He averaged a career-high 9.8 points in a career-best 23.8 minutes per game and knocked down 14-of-21 3-point attempts in March. That was the kind of progression many were looking for out of him, and it began with getting more of an opportunity to showcase his ability.
• Emerged late as a perimeter threat. As previously mentioned, Arkansas' offense took off in March after averaging just 0.98 and 1.02 PPP in the months of January and February, respectively. The Razorbacks, as a team, scored at a 1.07 PPP clip in the final month (the program's best mark in March since 2014) and Sills played a key part in that uptick in production.
He knocked down 14-of-21 3-point attempts in March, including 7-of-11 in Arkansas' three postseason games, and hit better than 50 percent of his 3s over the last eight, too. Sills really emerged as another perimeter threat alongside Isaiah Joe and Mason Jones late in the year, and it was interesting because, entering March, he had made just 16 3-pointers and no more than five in any month. Sills, though, and Mike Anderson both said he worked tirelessly in the team's practice facility and in Bud Walton Arena on his jumper, and that work paid off with a stellar and promising finish to the season.
Sills shot 48.6 percent from 3 on the left side of the floor and 42.1 percent on the right, according to shot chart data collected throughout the season with the exception of Texas-San Antonio in North Little Rock.
• Energy and toughness. Anderson, prior to the beginning of the season, described Sills as a Doberman, a high compliment from the now-former coach. Anderson was drawn to Sills in high school because of his star at Jonesboro, but he truly loved the toughness he brought to the floor as well as his passion and fearlessness. After calling his team's toughness into question following a home loss late in the season, he looked to Sills to provide some much-needed dog in the lineup, and the move paid dividends.
Weaknesses
• Needs to finish stronger. One of the more 'wow' moments of Sills' freshman season came in Arkansas' loss to Western Kentucky when he drove the ball strong to the rim and challenged Hilltoppers star freshman forward Charles Bassey. Sills finished the layup without a hint of a contest from Bassey, which was odd, but the sequence was impressive nonetheless. That said, he didn't find that kind of success with great regularity.
Sills finished just 23-of-45 attempts (51.1 percent) at the rim, according to my shot chart data, and made 26-of-54 shots in the painted area. There's no question he is quick enough to turn the corner and get into the lane just about whenever he wants, but when he does, he has to be a more effective finisher. Sills was 4-of-12 at the rim on the right side of the floor and missed 12 shots at the rim on the left side. While he was hot from deep in March, Sills made only 4 of his 15 2-point attempts in six games.
• Turnovers. There were a couple of times this season when it seemed like Sills couldn't not turn the ball over and even the simple play was difficult to make. Of the 94 SEC players eligible for a KenPom turnover rate ranking, which requires a player play at least 40 percent of his team's minutes, Sills was No. 93 with a mark of 28.4 percent, which is less than ideal. Granted, some of Sill's turnovers this season were of the offensive foul variety as a result of being too aggressive attacking the rim at times, he needs to cut down on the miscues. If he can do that while holding strong to his fearless mindset - I don't see that being an issue - then he can take another step toward being a solid SEC guard.
Extra points
On floor: Offense - 1.02 PPP, 20.1 percent TO rate; Defense - 1.01 PPP, 22.1 percent TO rate
Off floor: Offense - 1.05 PPP, 17 percent TO rate; Defense - 1.00 PPP, 22.9 percent TO rate
Best Sills quote: "I've been putting the work in before practice, and even on the off days, just trying to get up shots and help my teammates out." - Sills prior to Arkansas' SEC Tournament game against Florida
Best quote on Sills: "Desi is a guy that works on his game. He’s making plays, getting to the basket. He’s got a good game, and I think his confidence has really kind of soared and and I love it. He’s a competitor. He’s helping our basketball team defensively, offensively, and I think he brings an edge that you’ve got to have, especially in that guard position." - Mike Anderson
Season review series
Part 1: Jalen Harris
Part 2: Isaiah Joe
Part 3: Adrio Bailey
Part 4: Keyshawn Embery-Simpson
Part 5: Mason Jones
Part 6: Reggie Chaney