Point guard
William Avery will be the better pro, but Mateen Cleaves has been just as masterful guiding the Spartans. Avery curbed his inclination to shoot first and learned the nuances of a new position. Cleaves doesn't have a good shooting percentage, but he makes the big ones. Edge: Even.
Shooting guard
Trajan Langdon's postseason career had been a bust until last weekend, when he broke through by making nine of 12 three-pointers at the Meadowlands. Sophomore Charlie Bell is a fine defender, but the Spartans offense isn't designed to get him any shots. Edge: Duke.
Small forward
Chris Carrawell is Duke's unsung hero, a jack-of-all-trades who can defend point guards and post players. Carrawell is strong off the dribble, but so is Morris Peterson, the sixth man who gets more playing time than starter Jason Klein, a spot-up shooter who has a team-high 45 three-pointers. Edge: Even.
Power forward
For all of the talk about Shane Battier taking charges and being a defensive specialist, 1997's national prep Player of the Year can score when he has to. Just ask Maryland. Antonio Smith is Michigan State's top rebounder. Edge: Duke.
Center
Don't be surprised if Smith gets the responsibility of leaning on Elton Brand, since the National Player of the Year has 50 pounds on Andre Hutson, who'll be announced as the Spartans' center. Brand's low-post power was a rare commodity in the college game this season. Edge: Duke.
Bench
Peterson is the nation's best sixth man, but does anyone have as much talent coming off the bench as Duke, where McDonald's All-American Taymon Domzalski became an afterthought? Corey Maggette might be the most talented player at the Final Four, but A.J. Granger gives Michigan State two fine forwards off the bench. Edge: Duke.
Coach
Mike Krzyzewski has been here, done that, as this is his eighth Final Four. A win tonight would give him more tournament victories than even John Wooden. Michigan State bought into Tom Izzo's blue-collar philosophy after some preseason bumps, but this is a new level. Edge: Duke.
Pub Date: 3/27/99