Final Four 2012: Role Player Who Must Step Up for Each Team

After a long season, we have finally reached the Final Four in the 2011-2012 college basketball season. Ohio State, Kansas, Kentucky and Louisville are the only four teams remaining with aspirations of a championship. 

While each team has taken their own path, and come from a separate conference to get here, they all have proved throughout the year and the NCAA tournament that they are championship-caliber teams. The three games this weekend will assuredly be instant classics. 

While each team has its own star or two, it is often times the role players who will be the difference in big games, especially when the teams are as evenly matched as these four will assuredly be.

Let's now take a look at a role player from each squad who must play a huge part in their team's success if they want to cut down the nets on Monday night.

Ohio State: William Buford

While the attention will largely be paid to Jared Sullinger's inside presence, as well as the great defense on the perimeter of Aaron Craft, it may very well be senior William Buford who makes the difference if Ohio State wants to walk out of New Orleans with an NCAA championship. 

Buford averaged over 14 points a game in the regular season, but in the tournament he has been inconsistent at best and has struggled to get his shots to go down. In the NCAA tournament, more than half of Buford's attempts have been contested.

However, if he can bring his A game on Saturday against Kansas and take good shots within the flow of the offense,  it could keep the Buckeyes in the game against Kansas' high-powered offense. 

Ohio State relies on Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas to carry the bulk of the scoring load, but Buford will need to do his part as well, especially if either of the Buckeyes' leading scorers goes down early with foul trouble. 

Kansas: Jeff Withey

In order to neutralize Sullinger on the inside, Kansas will need a huge effort out of their big man, Jeff Withey.

The 7'0" junior has had a solid season, averaging just under 10 points and over six rebounds a game. He also averaged three-and-a-half blocks in the regular season.

He leads the NCAA tournament in blocked shots with 20 in his four games, and that ability to change the game on the inside could be a huge factor for the Jayhawks. 

As a team, Kansas is allowing just 24.5 points a game in the paint, tied with Louisville for the fewest among Final Four teams. That will be put to the test with Sullinger and Thomas's ability, but don't expect Withey and the rest of the Jayhawks' big men to allow Ohio State to get too many layups come Saturday.

Kentucky: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Considering the balance of the Wildcats' lineup, it was hard to key in on one player outside of Anthony Davis that will need to have a huge game this Saturday for Kentucky to win. However, if Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can continue to break out, it could make the Wildcats unbeatable in the Final Four. 

Kidd-Gilchrist put up 12 points and 7.5 rebounds for John Calipari's club in the regular season.

After scoring just 11 points combined in Kentucky's first two NCAA tournament games, he exploded for 24 against Indiana and 19 against Baylor to secure a Final Four position. He also pitched in 15 rebounds in those two games while shooting 14-for-25 from the field.

With Louisville coming up, Kentucky will be looking to show off all the weapons they can throw at a defense in the national semifinal game. Perhaps none of them are more explosive than Kidd-Gilchrist.

Louisville: Peyton Siva

Peyton Siva may have only been the sixth-leading scorer on Louisville in the 2011-2012 season, but make no mistake—he is the heart and soul of this team.

Siva, along with being the emotional leader of this team, is also their point guard and makes the Cardinals' dynamic offense click.

Siva is capable of putting up big numbers like he did in Louisville's first round win over Davidson when he notched 17 points. But when he is playing his best, he is keeping his teammates involved, like he did in Louisville’s regional semifinal and final victories where he picked up 17 assists. 

When Siva is playing well and making good decisions on the offensive end, Louisville just seems like a different team. His ability to penetrate opens up shots for Kyle Kuric and Russ Smith as well as easy opportunities for guys on the inside like Gorgui Deng.