Svi Mykhailiuk channels Bill Self, talks up defense and team-first basketball

By Staff     Jun 17, 2016

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) drives against Texas Tech guard Toddrick Gotcher (20) during the first half, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas.

Sure, Svi Mykhailiuk might be in Europe this summer, training with and playing for his native Ukraine’s Under 20 national team. But when the 19-year-old guard spoke earlier this week at the 2016 adidas Eurocamp, in Italy, it sounded like his Kansas coach, Bill Self, had just been in his ear.

[DraftExpress.com][1] caught up with the KU junior, who averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists [at the Eurocamp][2], as he and his team prepared for the upcoming Under 20 European Championships, in Finland.

Asked how the stop in Italy went for Ukraine, ahed of the July 16-24 international competition in Helsinki, Mykhailiuk came back with a Self-esque response.

> “I think we’ve got a good team, but
> we’ve got a lot of work to do, because
> on defense we’re not really great,”
> said the 6-foot-8 guard, who clearly
> has learned defense and toughness earn
> players minutes back in Lawrence. “…
> but we just need to get better on
> defense and just talk more and (get a
> feel for) each other more, because
> we’ve just been practicing for 10 days
> and you can’t do a lot of stuff in 10
> days. You can’t learn all of this in
> 10 days, so we just need a lot of
> time.”

Considered a first-round NBA Draft prospect for 2017 at this juncture, Mykhailiuk’s improving defensive skills showed up overseas. In the highlights provided by DraftExpress, “Svi” can be seen trapping hard on the wing, and swiping the ball away for a steal, as well as exploding through a passing lane for another takeaway, then finishing over a chasing defender at the rim.

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) shoots in a 3-point basket in a first-round NCAA tournament game against the Austin Peay Governors Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA.

According to the report, at one point a larger opponent tried and failed to post up Mykhailiuk inside.

> “For me, if you can’t play defense you
> can’t play basketball, so I’m just
> trying to play defense, and offense
> just comes naturally,” Mykhailiuk told
> DraftExpress. “If you can play good
> defense it gives you a fast break on
> offense, and it’s a basket. It just
> depends on how you’re playing
> defense.”

Ah, yes. Offense. That aspect of the game certainly still matters to the third-year guard, as well. So don’t worry about “Svi for three” turning into a passé phrase next season. Mykhailiuk, who scored a career-best 23 points in KU’s NCAA Tournament win over Austin Peay this past March, looked even more comfortable with the ball in his hands while wearing the yellow and blue of Ukraine.

In the DraftExpress highlights, Mykhailiuk, who averaged 5.4 points in 12.8 minutes as a sophomore for the Jayhawks, looked more play-maker that spot-up shooter.

The 191-pound guard can be seen:

– pulling up to nail a 3-pointer off an opening tip.

– chasing down an offensive rebound and whipping a pass inside to set a teammate up for a dunk.

– on a couple of occasions leading the break and dishing ahead for a Ukraine dunk in transition.

– popping up to the top of the key and squaring up quickly to knock down a 3-pointer in rhythm.

– utilizing a pick-and-roll to assist his teammate for a layup.

– taking a handoff from a big man outside, then using the post player as a screener, giving him room to rise up for another successful shot from downtown.

– surveying the floor well enough to rifle a look-away pass over his shoulder that hit a cutting teammate at the perfect time to convert a layup.

– cutting hard backdoor for a basket in the paint.

– making the best pass available in transition situations.

Still, Mykhailiuk didn’t come anywhere near painting himself as some kind of star during his interview. Again, the team-first concepts instilled by Self and other coaches he has played for through the years, such as Ukraine’s Maksym Mikelson, shone through in his words.

> “My role is to help my team win. You
> know, do whatever it is to help,” said
> Mykhailiuk, who likely will continue
> to embrace that approach next season
> as a sixth man for Kansas. “If you
> need to take 20 shots, you take 20
> shots. If you need to stay in the
> corner and (shoot) none and your team
> is playing good and they’re gonna win
> by doing that, it doesn’t matter for
> me what I’ve gotta do. I just want to
> see my team win.”

When he returns to KU and begins his third season in Self’s program, Mykhailiuk doesn’t anticipate a gift-wrapped expanded role or automatic increased playing time, either.

> “It just depends on me,” he said. “If
> I’m gonna play good, I’m gonna play.
> And, you know, like Wayne Selden left,
> Brannen Greene left, so now I need to
> step up.”

That sounds like something “Svi” has heard before — probably from Self.

*– Watch the entire DraftExpress video below:*

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

[1]: http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Sviatoslav-Mykhailiuk-2016-Adidas-Eurocamp-Interview-and-Highlights-5571
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/smithology/2016/jun/13/svi-mykhailiuks-european-summer-experien/

PREV POST

How former Jayhawks fared in NBA Finals Game 6

NEXT POST

49060Svi Mykhailiuk channels Bill Self, talks up defense and team-first basketball