Duke Basketball: Postseason Goals for Each Blue Devils Starter

The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is expected to be one of the final teams remaining after the chaos of the NCAA tournament's first week concludes.

For the team to avoid a third upset in four years in the Big Dance, it will need some of its stars to shine at the right moments. Duke will also need its players to fill key roles throughout the next month in order to have a chance of hoisting the national championship trophy in Indianapolis.

Here's a look at the postseason goals for each starter on the Duke roster.

Matt Jones: Provide the Team with Consistent Minutes

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No one expects Matt Jones to become Duke's top scorer all of a sudden. His team will not require him to be the leader in any stat category over the next few weeks.

But Matt Jones does need to provide the Blue Devils with consistent minutes on the court—and a guarantee that he will not make any crucial mistakes.

Over the last five contests, Jones has averaged 29.2 minutes per game. During that span, the sophomore guard has made 13 of his 30 field-goal attempts. He has also added 16 rebounds, seven assists and eight steals in Duke's last five victories.

If he continues to contribute solid numbers like that during the ACC and NCAA tournaments, Matt Jones will take the pressure off the rest of the starting five—who have heavier burdens and must play like the stars of the team on a nightly basis.

Tyus Jones: Cut Down Turnovers Per Game

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Freshman guard Tyus Jones has done little wrong in his first collegiate season, but he has been susceptible to turning the ball over on occasion. Of the 29 games he has played this season, Tyus Jones has committed a turnover in all but four of them. The last turnover-free game he had was the February 7 blowout of Notre Dame at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Tyus Jones has also been consistent in a bad way over the last five games, as he has given the ball away at least three times in each of those contests.

For the Blue Devils to ensure themselves a safe passage into the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, Tyus Jones needs to clean up his ball-handling skills a bit.

If he fails to cut down his turnover numbers, Duke could be headed for an early exit from the Big Dance.

Quinn Cook: Provide Senior Leadership When It Is Needed Most

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Quinn Cook brings an intangible to the table that few players on the Duke roster have: experience in the NCAA tournament.

As we all know, March Madness has a tendency to leave the ordinary at home and produce unpredictable results. Few players in major programs have learned that lesson on multiple occasions like Cook has. In two of his first three seasons at Duke, Cook and his teammates exited the field of 68 without a single victory.

While an early exit by Duke is not expected to happen this season, Cook must prepare the young players on the roster for the crazy happenings of the tournament.

If he provides that crucial mental aspect, we could see the Blue Devils make a deep run in March.

Justise Winslow: Continue to Thrive in Playmaking Role

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Very few teams in the nation possess a dynamic playmaker like Justise Winslow in their lineups.

Since throwing up a goose egg against St. John's, Winslow has finished each contest in double figures. He has also produced four double-doubles since January 25.

For Duke to win games against the top teams in the country, Winslow must deliver from every angle on the court. When he is at his best, few opposing defenders can contain Winslow.

If Winslow continues at his recent pace and Jahlil Okafor is thriving down low, Duke should be able to breeze past its opponents in the early rounds of the NCAA tournament.

If the freshman is shut down for long stretches of a single game or fails to find his shot, Duke could be in serious trouble. In Duke's three losses, Winslow has combined for 25 points and shot 8-of-26 from the field. The freshman also snagged eight combined rebounds in the defeats to North Carolina State, Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame.

Jahlil Okafor: Work on Free-Throw Shooting

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The one glaring weakness in Okafor's game has become apparent in recent weeks.

The freshman's lack of production from the free-throw line has jumped onto the national radar recently because it has presented opponents with a chance to take the big man out of the game.

For the season, Okafor is a 52.2 percent shooter from the charity stripe, a number that has been hampered by a 5-of-22 mark over the last three games. If the Blue Devils are involved in a close game, it would be wise for Duke's opponents to send Okafor to the line.

With that in mind, the freshman center should spend plenty of extra practice time at the line in order to throw opposing game plans into shambles.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.