Virginia vs. Auburn: 5 key storylines in Final Four matchup

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 30: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates after a three pointer against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at KFC YUM! Center on March 30, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 29: Danjel Purifoy #3 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2019 NCAA Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at Sprint Center on March 29, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

5. Danjel Purifoy is going to be a key for Auburn

Even though they won the game, Auburn suffered a big blow in their Sweet Sixteen win over North Carolina when sophomore forward, and leading scorer in the game Chuma Okeke suffered a torn ACL. With the biggest game of the season just two days later, Pearl’s team had to recover psychologically, emotionally, and on the floor.

Against Kentucky, while senior big man Horace Spencer drew the start, it was junior forward Danjel Purifoy who played the bulk of the minutes and will have to be an interior presence if Auburn wants to play for a national championship.

The 6-8 230lb. native of Alabama missed the first 12 games of the season, being sat out due to his name being linked to the FBI investigation into college athletics. Once he did return, he averaged just 3.6 points and two rebounds per game, never having scored more than eight points and grabbing more than four rebounds in a regular-season game this season. In the postseason, however, he scored 10 against Tennessee in the SEC finals and a season-high 12 against the Tar Heels in the Sweet Sixteen.

Next. Virginia's path to the Final Four. dark

Without Okeke against Kentucky he netted six points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, it is that kind of activeness Auburn will be looking for from him against Virginia. He doesn’t have to notch a double-double for them to win, but he does have to make sure Virginia knows he’s there and they have to keep an eye on him, you should too.

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