Last we saw the Wisconsin Badgers they were clawing their way back agains the Virginia Cavaliers in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. That effort came up short and the Badgers dropped their first game of the season.
But, beating Stanford and Oklahoma in the process impressed voters as UW moved up to No. 22 in the AP Poll.
The challenges won’t get much easier back on home soil though, as the Badgers get right back to Power 5 business with a home matchup against a 6-0 North Carolina State Wolfpack squad.
Let’s dive in to the matchup.
No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers
Record: 5-1 (0-0 B1G)
Head Coach: Greg Gard, 4th year at Wisconsin & overall (62-37 UW and overall)
Notable: Wisconsin is 9-10 overall in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, which may not seem great but actually is. That’s because the Badgers nine wins are tied for the second most of any team in the Big Ten in this challenge.
Probable Starters:
G – D’Mitrik Trice – 16.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
G – Brad Davison – 9.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg
F – Khalil Iverson – 5.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 apg
F – Nate Reuvers – 7.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg
C – Ethan Happ – 17.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 5.7 apg
NC State Wolfpack
Record: 6-0 (0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Kevin Keatts, 2nd year at NC State & 5th overall (27-12 at NC State & 99-40 overall)
Notable: 6-0 may seem impressive on its face, but this will be the Wolfpack’s first contest of the season against a fellow Power 5 program. In fact, there will only be four games against Power 5 foes in the non-conference season for NC State as a whole.
Probable Starters:
G – Braxton Beverly, So. — 7.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 2.8 apg
G – Markell Johnson, Jr. — 10.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 3.6 apg
G – Torin Dorn, Sr. — 18.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.5 apg
G – C.J. Bryce — 12.8 ppg, 6.0 ppg, 2.2 apg
F – Wyatt Walker — 6.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.1 apg
Matchup to Watch: Ethan Happ vs. Everyone
The Wolfpack have an impressive scoring duo at guard in Dorn and Bryce, who are long and athletic and play well in the uptempo style Keatts wants his team to play with.
But, how does a team with just one starter at 6-9 or better try and defend one of the most versatile forwards in the country? It’s going to have to be a team effort and therein lies the problem for the Wolfpack, just like other opponents all season.
Double and triple-team Happ, you’ve got open looks for the likes of D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison in the outside and likely another option in Khalil Iverson, who is likely to be cutting towards the basket. Nate Reuvers has shown his love of the top of the key and willingness to shoot from outside of 15-feet as well.
How the Wolfpack decide to defend against Happ is likely to dictate this game. I just can’t see them going one-on-one on the inside and allowing Happ to get to the rim.
It may be up to the rest of the team to pick up the free spots that will be open when they collapse on Happ.
Prediction:
Wisconsin 77, NC State 60
Here’s the problem for NC State — who have they played? So far, Mercer is likely their best opponent to date and they narrowly escaped that game with a 78-74 victory.
Wisconsin is battle tested at a high level with four games against quality opposition and a 3-1 record in those games already.
Happ has found a way to help his team win games in very different ways so far this year. Look for that to continue as he will take the shots and points NC State will give him, but may be more of a facilitator in this game.
Home will be sweet for Trice and Davison from beyond the arc and I also fully expect to see the growth from Kobe King that we saw in the Bahamas to continue as well.
It appears he is finding his place in this team and the confidence is showing in his increased point production as of late. He was 5-8 from beyond the arc in the Battle 4 Atlantis and if he can add 6-10 points per game off the bench then the Badgers are in good shape.
Season Prediction Record: 6-0