The stars of the Final Four are pretty obvious. Cassius Winston leads Michigan State against Jarrett Culver’s Texas Tech, while the guard battle between Virginia’s Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter, and Ty Jerome and Auburn’s Bryce Brown and Jared Harper will be fascinating.
But there’s obviously more to the Final Four than those stars. There are unheralded players who play key roles for their teams, be it defensively or as secondary scorers. This is a very team-oriented Final Four, so it makes sense that there are some players who aren’t household names but are vital to the runs their teams are on.
Here are eight players who aren’t stars but will be key during the Final Four.
Mamadi Diakite, F, Virginia
Virginia has more important shooters, but Diakite has been a consistent, successful presence throughout the team’s NCAA Tournament run. Not much of a scorer, he has saved his best for this most important time of year, with three of his six best games in terms of points scored coming during the NCAA Tournament. That includes 14-point showings against both Oklahoma and Purdue, helping create a signature March Madness moment in the latter game. He’s been one of the Cavaliers’ most consistent performers throughout this run.
Aaron Henry, G, Michigan State
Henry wasn’t even supposed to have a major role on this Michigan State team this season, but injuries have forced Tom Izzo to lean on the freshman as a starter. Henry got his first bit of national attention for how Izzo treated him during the Spartans’ win over Bradley, but he responded with his best game of the season in the Sweet 16. Henry will likely be tasked with slowing down Texas Tech star Jarrett Culver. If he can contribute on the offensive end, that’s even better.
Samir Doughty, G, Auburn
The VCU transfer has been thrust into the role of third option behind Bryce Brown and Jared Harper after Chuma Okeke went down with a season-ending injury in the Sweet 16. He didn’t try a three against Kentucky and was held to three points, but this is a 42 percent shooter from outside, and he can hit them. Virginia’s defense is going to force Auburn to deal with some things they’re likely not used to dealing with, and Doughty may have to knock down a couple of key shots to keep the Tigers moving forward.
Matt Mooney, G, Texas Tech
A South Dakota transfer, Mooney is perfectly representative of Chris Beard’s program. He has evolved into an elite on-ball defender, a key cog in the defensive powerhouse that the Red Raiders have built since Beard’s arrival. He’s averaging three steals a game during the NCAA Tournament, and his scoring output, a secondary concern, has been going up and up; Texas Tech probably wouldn’t have seen off Gonzaga without his 17 points. He’ll have his hands full with the Michigan State Spartans, but he looks more than ready for the moment.
Kihei Clark, G, Virginia
Clark is a freshman who stands a modest 5-foot-9, but he has an out-sized impact on the game. His offensive game is still growing and evolving, and as a freshman, there’s plenty of time for him to grow into that. However, he’s already an excellent on-ball defender on an outstanding defensive team. That means Clark will have a big say in how much success his opponent’s best player will have against Virginia. Expect to see him matched up against Auburn’s Jared Harper.
Davide Moretti, G, Texas Tech
The Italian-born sharpshooter has evolved from auxiliary scorer to one of the most dangerous three-point shooters left in the NCAA Tournament. Moretti shoots 46 percent from long range, hit 3-of-4 against Michigan, and added another two in four tries against Gonzaga. In other words, he’s hot right now after not making a three in either of his first two NCAA Tournament games. A consistent threat from deep, he stretches defenses and removes some of the pressure from star guard Jarrett Culver.
Danjel Purifoy, F, Auburn
To say Purifoy has had a rocky road to the Final Four would be an understatement. He was ineligible for all of last season after being caught up in the Chuck Person recruiting scandal, hasn’t started a game all season, and averages just 3.6 points per game. However, the Tigers looked to him when Okeke went down for the tournament against North Carolina. In the last two games, he’s scored 18 points while going 6-of-12 from three-point range. Every shot helps from Purifoy, and he played 32 minutes in the overtime win against Purdue. His role is larger now, and if he can knock down a few shots, look out.
Xavier Tillman, F, Michigan State
Tillman has had to grow up quickly. The sophomore’s role expanded with Nick Ward’s late-season injury, and even with Ward back in action, Tillman kept the starting job. There is some belief, in fact, that the Spartans are a better defensive team with him on the floor. He did the best job of any of Michigan State’s bigs on Zion Williamson, largely keeping the future NBA player in front of him while simultaneously chipping in with some key baskets on the other end of the floor. He and Cassius Winston seem to get each other, and he’s growing into an intelligent player and tenacious defender.
