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For Duke, this is an expectation, predictable, old hat even. For the Runnin' Utes who haven't seen this round of the NCAA Tournament in a decade, the Sweet 16 is new, exciting and what many saw as the pinnacle of Utah's potential. However, Larry Krystkowiak and company are out to prove a lot of people wrong Friday night. The Blue Devils crushed Robert Morris and San Diego State on their path to the Sweet 16, while the Utes scored wins of their own against Stephen F. Austin and storied Georgetown. Will Duke assume its usual place among the Elite Eight in the tournament? Or will Utah march on against a basketball powerhouse? Here's a position-by-position look at this matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Friday's game:

Point guard

It's hard to argue against Delon Wright, who was in the discussion for Pac-12 Player of the Year and is among the best point guards at the college level. However, he's also been less of an attacker and more of a facilitator thus far in March Madness. He struggled against SFA's tempo and pressing in the first game, shooting only 2 for 7 from the field and scoring seven of his 11 points on free throws. Against Georgetown, he was again limited to only two made baskets and eight points from free throws. He'll have his hands full defending Duke senior Quinn Cook, who averages nearly 16 points per game, but Wright also seems due for a big game on a big stage.

The aforementioned Cook is the engine that makes Duke go, a savvy veteran who quarterbacks the fourth-best scoring team in the nation. He starred in the first game of the tournament for the Blue Devils, dropping 22 points, four rebounds and five assists on Robert Morris. He was also deadly in transition the following game against San Diego State, scoring 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Wright gets the slight edge because of his size advantage, but this battle is razor-thin.

Edge: Utah

Shooting guard

The Utes needed a strong shooting performance from Brandon Taylor against Georgetown and he delivered. He led the team in scoring with 14 points and shot 50 percent from behind the arc, keeping the Hoyas' defense honest. Taylor's tenacious perimeter defense and shooting touch will be needed to both slow down and keep up with Duke's offensive output. He'll also be tested against Tyus Jones, who has a few inches on Taylor.

Jones is one of a few freshmen playing key roles on this Duke team, manning the backcourt alongside Cook. He had a hot shooting performance against Robert Morris, shooting 57 percent from the field for 10 points, while adding seven assists. However, he was more pedestrian against San Diego State, deferring to Jahlil Okafor and other offensive weapons. This battle is the most even on the floor in this game.

Edge: Even

Small forward

Jordan Loveridge will play a large part in this game, and as he goes, so will the Utes. He's been quietly very efficient in this tournament, scoring 12 points and grabbing five boards against SFA before scoring 10 against Georgetown. He's also on fire from behind the arc, shooting 4 of 6 in two games. He'll be charged with defending another freshman phenom in Justise Winslow, who is third on the team in scoring.

Winslow is tall, long and unafraid to scrap when it comes to rebounds. The freshman was a heralded recruit and possesses a ton of natural talent. While Loveridge is more of a self-made talent, Winslow has the natural tools as a terrific wing scorer and defender. He's in the discussion to be an NBA lottery pick and has the clear advantage over Loveridge.

Edge: Duke

Power forward

Chris Reyes will start and share time, as per usual with the Utes. Reyes is a reliable rebounder and defender, not afraid to mix it up for loose balls and 50-50 rebounds. He's not much of a scorer, but makes way for players like Dakarai Tucker to come off the bench to add a spark in smaller lineups. He had four points in Utah's win over Georgetown and answered when called upon, but won't be a giant factor in this game.

On the other side, Amile Jefferson starts at power forward for Duke. He's a bit of an afterthought among such a strong starting five, but is playing a supporting role in the larger machine of Duke's success. He scores nearly seven points and grabs nearly six rebounds per game. He's a calming and leadership presence among the team, mentoring the freshmen and has the ability to step up when needed.

Edge: Duke

Center

Jakob Poeltl has come alive for the Runnin' Utes at exactly the right time, dominating in two tournament games. He crushed SFA almost single-handedly, dropping 18 points on a perfect shooting performance from the field and grabbing eight rebounds. Against Georgetown, he handled the test of big center Josh Smith, scoring 12 points in only 18 minutes of play. However, his next test is his biggest in Jahlil Okafor, setting the stage for a great battle.

Okafor pulled out all the stops against the Aztecs, showcasing a plethora of post moves on the way to a 26-point, six-rebound performance. He's hitting his peak at exactly the right time, producing as an offensive juggernaut for Duke. After 21 points against Robert Morris, Okafor will be more than a handful for Poeltl, but also struggles in pick-and-roll defense on occasion. Still, his natural talent and consistent scoring success gives him a slight edge over Poeltl.

Edge: Duke

Coaching

Larry Krystkowiak has done everything right in his tenure at Utah, rebuilding a proud culture and reviving a struggling program. He got the Utes this far and it's hard to bet against him, but he's also running into one of the best college coaches of all-time. His impact on this game will be felt if Utah can slow down the Duke attack, if he can calm his team in a high-stakes environment and keep the game from getting out of hand.

What more is there to say about Mike Krzyzewski? Coach K has taken one of his youngest teams ever to the precipice of the Elite Eight. He has 82 NCAA Tournament wins, four NCAA Championships and has reached 13 Elite Eights. He possesses one of the best talents in the nation in Okafor and has the "been here before" edge over Krystkowiak.

Edge: Duke

Prediction: The Utes should be lauded for making it this far, but the run ends here to Duke. The Blue Devils are firing on all cylinders offensively and Okafor will be a huge scoring advantage in the frontcourt. Duke will win this game 68-58.

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith