No. 6 Utah (29-5) at No. 2 Kentucky (27-5)

AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Sixth-seeded Utah will have to clear a major obstacle in order to reach the Austin Region final.

The Utes (29-5) are 0-5 all-time against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament heading into Friday's matchup in the regional semifinals.

Kentucky (27-5) leads the series, 8-2, including a 78-69 victory in the 1998 national championship game. The last meeting between the teams was also in the NCAAs, a 74-54 win for the Wildcats in the second round of the 2003 tournament.

This time around, the Utes have a weapon unlike any they have had before when facing the Wildcats - 7-0 Australian center Andrew Bogut. A player of the year candidate, Bogut can do it all and has the ability to carry the Utes by himself.

Bogut does not need to shoot every time down the floor to control a game as he proved in a second-round win over Oklahoma last Saturday. Utah repeatedly ran its offense through the big man and he found teammates flashing to the basket for an array of dunks and layups.

Bogut dished out a career-high seven assists, grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 10 points on seven shots. The Utes are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1998.

Bogut will need his teammates to step up and provide some help if the Utes are to prevail against the Wildcats this time around. Marc Jackson is an outstanding shooter and the team's assist leader and Bryant Markson provides some athleticism. Justin Hawkins will need a repeat of his 20-point performance against the Sooners.

The Wildcats are deep, play solid pressure defense and have a battle-tested coach in Tubby Smith.

Kentucky goes 10 deep and is led by Kelenna Azubuike, a slasher who can hit the 3-pointer. Patrick Sparks shoots effectively from the arc, and Chuck Hayes is tough on the boards.

Freshman Randolph Morris collected 11 points and 12 rebounds and Rajon Rondo scored 16 points and added seven assists in Kentucky's second-round win over Cincinnati on Saturday. On Friday, the Wildcats will rely more on Morris for defense against Bogut than for scoring.

A region final game against Duke or Michigan State awaits the winner on Sunday.