The Final Four is set and the college basketball season will come to an end as a champion will soon be crowned in Indianapolis. This weekend UConn, Illinois, Arizona, and Michigan will take the biggest stage of the year, where the brightest stars are expected to shine.
However, in the past we have seen unexpected heroes emerge in the Final Four and National Championship game. Think of players like Grayson Allen, Spike Albrecht, and Luke Hancock who turned themselves into household names with breakout performances when the lights were brightest. With that in mind, here is a lesser-known role player from each Final Four team who could have a breakout performance.
McKenny is a true freshman in this year’s loaded freshman class that has flown under the radar, due in large part to not needing to be a star with such a talented Michigan roster around him. He is an extremely talented three-point shooter and finisher around the rim, and all signs point to him being the guy for the Wolverines next season.
McKenney has taken on a larger role following the injury to L.J. Cason, and he’s done well including a 17-point performance on 71% shooting in the Sweet 16 against Alabama. Michigan’s two most recent losses have come when point guard Elliot Cadeau struggled offensively, but McKenny also didn’t provide much support, scoring just eight points on 3-for-14 shooting with no made threes in those games.
Against an elite Arizona defense, Dusty May will need contributions from multiple scoring options. McKenny has the talent to step up, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see another freshman really shine.
With how balanced Arizona is offensively, there are several players capable of being the guy any given night. The Wildcats have had seven different leading scorers this season including Dell’Orso, who is averaging just 8.6 points per game but has shown up in big moments.
Dell’Orso delivered back-to-back 22-point performances against Houston and BYU, helping Arizona bounce back from their two-game losing streak in February. He also dropped 26-points with six threes against Iowa State in the Big 12 semifinals. The experienced senior is a tough and confident player on the offensive end that can get to the basket and heat up behind the three-point line.
On a roster loaded with talent, Dell’Orso has been an unsung hero this season, stepping up multiple times in big moments. In a matchup like Arizona vs Michigan, it wouldn’t be surprising if a role player like him ends up being the difference-maker.
Humrichous hasn’t quite been the scoring threat many expected after transferring in to Champaign last season from Evansville, but he hasn’t needed to be on an Illinois team that is loaded offensively. He’s found a great role for himself with great size as a key piece defensively for the Illini off the bench.
Humrichous has also shown to be a threat on the outside offensively, shooting 37% from three over his career. He has been very boom-or-bust this season having multiple games with little to no points, but also scoring in double figures nine times. With the Final Four taking place in Indianapolis, not far from his hometown, Humrichous could be due for one of his “boom” performances.
Tarris Reed and Alex Karaban have been the key for UConn in this tournament, but Malachi Smith is a name to keep an eye on. The Dayton transfer made several crucial plays in the Huskies’ improbable win over Duke and did in fact not run off of the bench.
Smith is your typical Dan Hurley player as a gritty, high-effort, and reliable guy on both ends of the floor. His defense will be needed against a high-powered Illinois offense. He’s also a capable three-point shooter, though he’s only attempted 45 shots from beyond the arc this season, but is knocking them down at an impressive 46.7% clip. Smith had one of his best games this season earlier in the year against Illinois, scoring a season-high 14 points while going a perfect 3-for-3 from three.
Also keep an eye on Solo Ball, who is more of a star for the Huskies, but had a very off March offensively and feels due for a big-time performance.