–  Welcome to the Final Four – 

Whether you’re a regular or newbie to these CBB Playbooks, we’ll be doing things a bit differently to prepare for Saturday’s Final Four matchups. We will break down each of the four remaining teams with each game getting their own Playbook and point out the top guards and forwards you should be building lineups around - for both GPP and cash game contests.

 

VIRGINIA

Let’s take a closer look at Virginia, the 1-seed from the South Regional with a 33-3 overall record. On their journey to the Final Four, the Cavaliers - led by head coach Tony Bennett - have beaten Gardner Webb, Oklahoma, Oregon and Purdue in the NCAA Tournament after clinching a share of the ACC regular season crown. According to KenPom’s ratings of 353 Division I teams, Virginia ranks 2nd in offensive efficiency, 5th in defensive efficiency and 353rd in tempo.

The Cavs’ offense is mostly led by the three-headed monster of Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter - but their best player during the Tournament has been a different name.

Find out who that player is - and more - with the Virginia DFS Playbook!

Expected Starters:

  • G: Ty Jerome - $8,000 DK / $8,000 FD

  • G: Kyle Guy - $7,200 DK / $6,700 FD

  • G: De’Andre Hunter - $6,900 DK / $6,800 FD

  • G: Kihei Clark - $4,500 DK / $4,300 FD

  • F: Mamadi Diakite - $5,000 DK / $6,100 FD

Key Reserves:

  • F: Jack Salt - $3,900 DK / $3,500 FD

  • G: Braxton Key - $4,300 DK / $4,000 FD

  • F: Jay Huff - $3,400 DK / $3,200 FD

Guards To Target

Ty Jerome ($8,000 DK / $8,000 FD)

The biggest challenge on any two-game CBB slate is finding safe points - and Jerome is one of the safest bets on all four teams. The junior point guard is averaging 33.25 DK points across the first four rounds and is coming off his best performance yet - 42+ DK points with 24 points scored and four made three-pointers vs. Purdue in the Elite Eight. While Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter have been inconsistent scoring-wise in the tourney, Jerome has anchored Virginia’s offense with double-digit points in each game and 13 total assists in the last two outings. Jerome is one of four high-priced guards on this slate (along with Jarrett Culver, Cassius Winston and Jared Harper) but his fantasy floor remains high because of his assists, rebounds and steals - before last game, he had at least two steals in seven straight. With a few elite value plays on this slate, there’s an optimal way to fit both Jerome and one or two other top tier guards in the same lineup. Overall, though, he’s a safe cash game play with the upside to repeat his 40+ DK points as Virginia is projected to score the most points of all Final Four teams.

Kyle Guy ($7,200 DK / $6,700 FD)

If you rostered Guy in your DFS CBB lineups earlier in the tournament, you likely stayed away from him for the Elite Eight slate when he drained five three-pointers and put up 42+ DK points with a double-double (25 points, 10 rebounds). In response to that offensive explosion, Guy’s DFS price has increased significantly on both sites - making him a very attractive GPP play for Saturday. People may still fade Guy at his higher salary because of what he did before last weekend - he averaged just 17.4 DK points and went 3-for-26 from three-point range (11.5%) over the first three tournament games. Yet, those numbers are noticeably less than his season-long averages of 26.4 DK points and 42.7% three-point shooting and not indicative of what he can do for your lineups when he gets hot shooting. The 10 boards vs. Purdue are bit uncharacteristic, but he does average 4.6 rebounds per game and he could become more active on the glass with how many three’s Auburn should launch in this matchup.

Kihei Clark ($4,500 DK / $4,300 FD)

Ever since Clark was inserted into the starting lineup in early February, he’s played an integral role in Virginia’s run to the Final Four - and the freshman is getting even more playing time in the tourney. Over the first three rounds, Clark logged at least 33 minutes each outing and averaged 20+ DK points. Although Clark’s minutes were reduced to only 24 against Purdue in the Elite Eight - it was largely because the Boilermakers ran taller lineups where Clark’s size became a mismatch. Plus, we all saw how important he was in the most crucial moment of the game. On Saturday, expect Clark to get back to 30+ minutes as Auburn should resort to smaller, guard-heavy lineups in the wake of Chuma Okeke’s injury. His intensity on defense could be crucial in slowing down Tigers point guard Jared Harper too. Clark’s role on offense has also expanded in the tournament as Virginia head coach Tony Bennett is opting to use him more in the true point guard role while moving Ty Jerome to the wing in order to increase his ability as a scorer - moving without the ball and coming off screens. At his cheap price tag, Clark is an option in all formats as he should provide 20+ fantasy points if he’s playing 30 or more minutes.

Forwards To Target

Mamadi Diakite ($5,000 DK / $6,100 FD)

We’ve buried the lede here as Diakite has been Virginia’s best overall player in this tournament and should be locked into your lineups in every format. The junior has started each of the last three games and is averaging 29.9 DK points, 13 real points, nine rebounds and 2.3 blocks across the first four rounds. His FanDuel price has rightfully increased a bit for Saturday, but his salary on DraftKings is still not high enough as he’s returned at least 5x value at that mark in each of the four tournament games. Diakite’s versatility as a defender should keep him locked into heavy minutes against Auburn’s equally athletic bigs - a better matchup than Virginia’s other forwards in Jack Salt and Jay Huff. With all of the expensive guards we want to fit in on this two-game slate, Diakite makes roster construction a lot easier as one of the best point-per-dollar plays at the forward position.

 

AUBURN

Despite being the lowest remaining seed, many would argue that at this juncture, the Auburn Tigers have the best chance of winning it all. They've gone through a gauntlet of top-ranked teams thus far and have won every contest – save for their first round matchup –  rather handily... 

Let’s take a closer look at Auburn, the 5-seed from the Midwest Regional with a 30-9 overall record. On their journey to the Final Four, the Tigers - led by head coach Bruce Pearl - have beaten New Mexico State, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament after taking down the SEC tournament crown as well. According to KenPom’s ratings of 353 Division I teams, Auburn ranks 6th in offensive efficiency, 39th in defensive efficiency and 153rd in tempo.

Jared Harper and Bryce Brown are the team’s scoring leaders and they will likely shoulder the offensive load this weekend following Chuma Okeke’s season-ending ACL tear vs. UNC in the Sweet 16. In Okeke’s absence, a couple key forward reserves will need to step up - just as they did in the Elite Eight victory over Kentucky.

Find out who those value plays are - and more!

Expected Starters:

  • G: Jared Harper - $8,100 DK / $7,700 FD

  • G: Bryce Brown - $6,800 DK / $6,400 FD

  • G: Malik Dunbar - $4,200 DK / $4,100 FD

  • F: Anfernee McLemore - $4,700 DK / $4,200 FD

  • F: Horace Spencer - $4,000 DK / $4,000 FD

Key Reserves:

  • F: Danjel Purifoy - $3,700 DK / $4,100 FD

  • G: Samir Doughty - $4,600 DK / $4,400 FD

  • G: J’Von McCormick - $3,600 DK / $3,700 FD

  • F: Austin Wiley - $4,100 DK / $3,800 FD

 

Guards To Target

Jared Harper ($8,100 DK / $7,700 FD)

The Chuma Okeke injury is a big loss for Auburn’s offense overall, but it does mean a higher usage for Harper as the team’s point guard and best ball-handler. In the Elite Eight win over Kentucky, Harper’s speed was on full display as he consistently drove around defenders to get to the rim. The junior ended up with 26 points scored on 18 shot attempts while going 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Harper’s ability to get to the basket will be imperative for Auburn if it wants to pull off the upset on Saturday. Virginia doesn’t have the speed on defense to stay with Harper as he pushes the pace and either scores, gets fouled or dishes to teammates on the three-point line. He’s one of the more expensive guards on this slate but still a solid cash game play because he’ll be involved in nearly all of Auburn’s offensive possessions - just as he was last weekend.

Bryce Brown ($6,800 DK / $6,400 FD)

While Harper is Auburn’s overall leader on offense, Brown is the team’s best pure scorer and shooter. Through the first four rounds of this tournament, Brown is shooting 54.5% from the field and 43.8% from three-point range with scoring performances of 12, 25, 12 and 24 points. Against Kentucky in the Elite Eight, Auburn leaned on Brown and Harper for its offense with Chuma Okeke out - each finished with 24 or more points while the rest of the team combined for just 27 points. Still, Brown is a much better GPP play this weekend because Virginia’s stifling defense could focus on shutting down his three-point shooting - and his mid-range price tag could scare most people away from rostering him.

Forwards To Target

Anfernee McLemore ($4,700 DK / $4,200 FD)

McLemore was already a regular starter before the Chuma Okeke injury, but the junior took on an expanded role in the Elite Eight with his teammate sidelined. In the first game without Okeke, McLemore played a season-high 30 minutes vs. Kentucky and put up 22+ DK points with eight points scored, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. His 10 shot attempts were also his most in a game since he took the same amount back on Jan. 12. McLemore’s smaller, more athletic build - 6’7”, 220 pounds - should keep him locked into increased playing time yet again this weekend as his versatility is a better matchup vs. Virginia’s Mamadi Diakite than most of Auburn’s other bigs. If he puts up 20 DFS points like he did last time out, McLemore is definitely cash viable but doesn’t bring much upside for GPP’s because the Tigers will still rotate their forwards often.

Danjel Purifoy ($3,700 DK / $4,100 FD)

Although he still came off the bench last weekend with Okeke out, Purifoy has seen the biggest boost in fantasy value after his teammate got hurt. The junior played a season-high 32 minutes against Kentucky and was a main part of Auburn’s crunch-time lineup in the second half and overtime. He put up 20+ DK points with six points scored, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal while hitting 2-of-6 from three-point range. The absence of Okeke definitely aided in Purifoy’s extended minutes - but he also saw an increase in playing time because Auburn’s other bigs (Horace Spencer, Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore) all were in foul trouble trying to guard Kentucky’s talented frontcourt of PJ Washington and Reid Travis. Virginia’s rotations are mostly guard-heavy which could reduce some of his minutes, but Purifoy’s three-point shooting could keep him on the court. He also drained 4-of-6 from deep and put up 18 DK points in the Sweet 16 win over North Carolina. At this cheap salary (especially on DraftKings), Purifoy should be a chalky play in cash and tournaments as an attractive salary-saver.