Final Four 2019: Sleeper impact player from each team
By Jacob Lane
Texas Tech – Davide Moretti – Guard
- 11.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
While a lot of the talk has been focused on likely top-five draft pick, Jarrett Culver, and even graduate transfers Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens, one of the most unsung hero’s for Chris Beard’s Red Raider squad has been sophomore point guard Davide Moretti.
Moretti’s ability to make big shots as well as take away an opposing team’s top scoring guard will undoubtedly be the biggest factor for Texas Tech heading into the matchup with Michigan State and Big Ten Player of the Year Cassius Winston.
While defense is primarily where Moretti thrives, it’s his three-point shooting that has been one of the biggest reasons Texas Tech is where they are. Though he struggled in the first weekend, Moretti went a combined 5-of-8 from deep against Michigan and Gonzaga, including hitting two crucial shots down the stretch of the game to advance to the Sweet 16.
Not only that but Moretti’s ability to get to the foul line, where he shoots an incredible 92 percent, good enough for second in the country, is what makes him the “sleeper” x-factor for the Raiders. I expect Michigan State to try and take away Moretti’s looks from deep, but for a team that commits 17 fouls per game, Moretti could be even more dangerous attacking downhill.