Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Wisconsin

NC State will take on #22 Wisconsin tonight in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at 9pm on ESPN2, and they have yet to face a team of the caliber of the Badgers.

They also haven’t faced a player the caliber of Senior Forward Ethan Happ (6’10″/237). Happ is averaging 17.8 points (team lead), 12.5 rebounds (team lead) and 5.7 assists (team lead). He has the handles of a guard, and can take his man off the dribble, but he also has finesse with his back to the basket, with sweet touch on a baby hook. Happ is shooting 57% from the field, and only 56.2% from the free-throw line. Sophomore DJ Funderburk (6’10″/210) and Junior Wyatt Walker (6’9″/240) both will probably take a stab at containing Happ, but Funderburk’s athleticism will probably matchup best when Happ wants to put the ball on the floor.

Wisconsin is the 21st best three-point shooting team (42.1%) in the nation, and Junior Guard D’Mitrik Trice is a big reason why. Trice is shooting 57.1% from beyond the arch, and is averaging 16.8 points per game.

The Badgers take care of the basketball, ranking 20th in assist/turnover ratio (1.48) and 8th in turnovers per game (9.0).

What makes Wisconsin so dangerous though isn’t their offense, but their stingy defense, ranking in the the Top-30 in almost every defensive stat category.

Here are highlights from Wisconsin’s matchup against Oklahoma State and UVA in the Battle 4 Atlantis this past week.