Roster building is not only about talent collection. Of course, acquiring skilled players is a major piece of constructing a roster. However, all the pieces also need to fit together, complement one another, and meet the needs of any successful basketball team. With his defensive versatility and positional flexibility, sophomore wing Dame Sarr is an integral piece to Duke’s success this upcoming season, and he is a player who can be a big piece to a successful basketball team.
With Cameron Boozer declaring for the NBA Draft, Duke needed to address the defensive hole created by his departure. Although most of the attention this offseason centers on the offensive boost from John Blackwell or the arrival of new faces, a returning player looks to fill Boozer’s void defensively while improving his offensive effectiveness. Thankfully, Duke already has a defensive stopper in Sarr.
Dame Sarr: Duke’s Defensive Glue
On a team filled with offensive talent, Sarr was never relied upon as a primary offensive contributor. Starting in 30 games, he averaged a pedestrian 6.4 points per game. Still, Sarr became an invaluable member of the program, providing the kind of impact rarely seen on a box score or stat sheet. Although offensive expectations will increase in year two under Jon Scheyer, the defensive end of the court is where Sarr tends to butter his bread.
Defensive Impact
Have you ever heard the term “position-less basketball” before? Of course, you have. It is a term freely thrown around to describe today’s game, emphasizing the deconstruction of traditional positional roles. Although we tend to classify many players under this umbrella, Sarr is one of the few players who truly embody the term.
At six-foot-eight, Sarr’s height classifies him as a traditional forward. However, pairing that with his lateral quickness allows him to attack the offense and guard any position one through four. Equipped with a high defensive IQ, Sarr matches his athleticism with an ability to read plays and disrupt an offensive flow. His close to seven-foot wingspan provides an advantage in contesting shots and shrinking the floor. Additionally, Sarr navigates through screens, sticking with his assignment and limiting their effectiveness. Averaging three defensive rebounds per game, Sarr’s success rate in securing boards leaves room for growth. If he can improve at cleaning the glass, he becomes a real threat to create and even finish fast breaks.
Positional Flexibility
Though Sarr’s defense is his biggest strength, one of the most intriguing storylines involving the sophomore with NBA aspirations is his occasional potential to play at the four-spot. Unlike last season’s Blue Devils, this campaign’s squad is built with greater mobility and versatility.
With Sarr playing at the four, Scheyer can implement a defense that strictly switches off the screen, essentially negating their impact. Adding three guards to a lineup with Sarr places four players on the court capable of defending every position but center. Of course, Patrick Ngongba II or Drew Scharnowski is very capable of handling those responsibilities.
Elevating Offense
Offensively, Sarr’s production needs work. On this Blue Devils’ roster, Scheyer will never need to rely on 20-plus points from him. However, getting his points-per-game average into the double digits could be what transforms Sarr from just a starter to a star.
Duke would benefit most from improving Sarr’s three-point efficiency. Last season’s 32.3% from long range is far from awful. Still, if he can get closer to 36%-38%, Sarr becomes a real threat for an offense that should generate its fair share of perimeter opportunities.
Sarr’s decision to return to Duke for next season added another layer to Coach Scheyer’s phenomenal offseason, where he succeeded in building his roster through all three avenues. Already one of the team’s most valuable defenders, an expected improvement offensively makes Sarr’s presence integral to the program’s success.
Featured Image: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
