How did the NBA prospects fare to kick off the NCAA Tournament?
The field of 68 has been reduced to 16.
From a watchability standpoint, the tournament has not failed to impress. Half court buzzer-beater? Check. Series of dramatic upsets? Check. 12 point comeback in 33 seconds? Check.
But how did the top NBA prospects fare? It’s important to remember the opening weekend of the tournament is just a few games of a larger resume, but that should not stop discussions over who was impressive and who left viewers with feelings of disappointment.
Four I Liked:
Kris Dunn & Ben Bentil, Providence- I was at PNC Arena in Raleigh for the second round of the NCAA tournament, and the duo of Dunn and Bentil did not disappoint. Albeit in a loss, Dunn was active on both ends of the floor and displayed an impressive knack for scoring from all over the court. Bentil looks like the modern day stretch-four so many teams are looking for. If he declares and stays in, look for Bentil to crack the first round.
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma- Hield scored 20 of the team’s final 24 points in a win over VCU. The guard was raining treys off the dribble and while set, and finished a couple of great drives with smooth finishes. While his upside may not be as high as the other projected lottery picks, Hield will make a team very happy.
Melo Trimble, Maryland- Trimble has been in an incredible slump over the past few weeks, but he broke out with a pair of first round-caliber performances. Trimble’s 3-point shot wasn’t falling, but he was an impeccable 22-for-23 from the free throw line while averaging 21.5 points over two games. If he enters, Trimble isn’t falling out of the top-30 picks.
Others of Note: The Oregon trio (Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey, Chris Boucher), Wayne Selden, Brice Johnson, Domantas Sabonis
Three I Was Disappointed By:
Jakob Poeltl, Utah- Poeltl looked like a shell of his usual self against Gonzaga, as he was thoroughly outplayed by Domantas Sabonis. It was likely just a poor outing, as Poeltl has been very impressive over the course of the season. Even still, this will be a game that lottery executives will take a long look at.
Jaylen Brown, California- No one suffered the loss of starting point guard Tyrone Wallace more than Brown, who forced shots and looked out of the flow of the game in Hawaii’s upset of the Golden Bears. Brown’s shot selection was poor, and his defense was not quite as active. Brown is still a top-6 caliber player, but the game showed how crucial a competent point guard will be for his development at the next level.
Michigan State- Lost in the first round to Middle Tennessee State. If you read my preview of the first round, you’ll note why I am shocked and disappointed by this result.
Others of Note: Skal Labissiere, Danuel House, Nigel Hayes, Isaiah Whiteside, Damian Jones
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