Oklahoma, 10th seed
We’ll see if Trae Young can unlock some of his early-season magic now that he’s out of the Big 12, but Oklahoma hasn’t looked great during the season’s second half. Young’s shots aren’t falling like they used to, while his teammates haven’t been able to carry the load when he struggles.
Nonetheless, even if I’m picking against the Sooners, they have Young. He’s worth watching, both from an NBA standpoint and because he has the ability to do something special at any given moment. He’s still an elite talent, and his recent struggles have given the Sixers the slightest of chances at getting him.
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He needs to work on his decison-making at times, but Young is more than capable of running an NBA offense. His range is wholly unique, while his crafty ball handling and advanced facilitation skills allow him to break down the defense and get others involved when he wants to.
Defense will always be an issue and there are valid concerns about whether or not his frame will hold up at the next level. He isn’t perfect, but he’s worth watching in the tournament, if only for the off chance that he puts on a vintage clinic (by vintage, I mean December).