PAOK down Udine 89-71: Cedi Osman shines, Trinchieri’s experiment works

PAOK began their preseason tour in Italy with an 89-71 win over Udine, but the scoreline tells only part of the story. Andrea Trinchieri treated the game as a laboratory, experimenting with lineups and giving minutes to almost every available player. Cedi Osman led the way with 22 points, scoring efficiently without dominating the ball. He moved off screens, cut into open lanes, and finished possessions with quick decisions. Kyle Alexander added 14 points with strong work around the basket, while Naz Mitrou-Long and Huggins each contributed 13. PAOK led by as many as 26 points at 70-44 before Udine closed the gap in the final stages. Trinchieri was pleased with the energy and the growing chemistry. Osman showed he can create space for teammates, and the balanced scoring suggests PAOK will not depend solely on one player. Still, the late defensive breakdowns against Udine serve as a reminder that consistency remains the biggest challenge. This was only the first friendly, but it gave the coaching staff useful answers about the team’s identity, depth, and areas still needing work.