Wisconsin at N.C. State: how to watch and open thread

Well, here we go again! The Badgers are back on the court after a disheartening two-game display in Brooklyn at the Legends Classic. Wednesday night’s matchup is one of the final games of this year’s ACC/B1G Challenge and sees the Wisconsin Badgers (4-3 overall) travel to North Carolina to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2 overall, 0-1 ACC).

The Wolfpack are the No. 44 team in KenPom’s rankings (Wisconsin is No. 56) and have had a pretty light schedule so far. The only two top-100 KenPom teams that N.C. State has played, they have lost to (Memphis and Georgia Tech), but they have looked dominant in their five wins.

N.C. State is efficient on offense, doesn’t turn the ball over often and doesn’t allow opposing teams to take a lot of three pointers. This game could be tougher for the Badgers than originally thought at the beginning of the season.

How to watch/listen

TV: ESPN2, 8:15 p.m., CT, Mike Couzens, Cory Alexander

Streaming: Watch ESPN

Radio/Satellite: 1310 AM, Sirius 83, XM 83; Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas

Live stats: Here!

Arena: PNC Arena, Raleigh, N.C.

Line: Wisconsin +5

KenPom Wisconsin win percentage: 34%

Fun facts (according to the media guides)

• For the second year in a row, Wisconsin will take on NC State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Last season, the Badgers claimed a 79-75 comeback win over the Wolfpack in Madison. There was no controversy.
• Wisconsin is 10-10 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, equaling Purdue for the most wins by a Big Ten team in the event.
• The Badgers are 3-0 all time vs. N.C. State.
• UW defeated the Wolfpack, 87-48, in 2010 with Jon Leuer (22 points) and Jordan Taylor (21 points) leading the way. Wisconsin’s 39-point win over NC State in 2010 is the third-most lopsided game in Big Ten/ACC Challenge history and the largest by a Big Ten school.
• The Badgers also knocked off NC State, 65-56, in the 2005 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in Syracuse, N.Y. Current assistant coach Alando Tucker scored a game-high 22 points in that contest.
• UW is 73-45 (.619) away from home (road and neutral) over the last seven seasons. They are 0-3 this year and this is the first true road game for Wisconsin.
• The Wolfpack has had a balanced scoring attack all season. NC State’s top eight scorers all average at least seven points per game and all eight players have scored in double figures in at least two games this season.
• The Pack has an all-time record of 7-12 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. NC State is 6-3 in home challenge games.
• NC State has won 35 of its last 36 non-conference games at PNC Arena.
• Contrasting styles on display on Wednesday night. NC State pushes the pace on offense and ranks No. 15 in the NCAA in scoring offense at 83.6 points per game, while Wisconsin ranks No. 254 in scoring offense at 68.3 points per game. Conversely, Wisconsin ranks No. 56 in the NCAA in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 61.7 points per game, while NC State ranks No. 215 and allows 70.4 points per game.

Probable starters

Wisconsin

• D’Mitrik Trice, redshirt junior, guard, No. 0
• Aleem Ford, redshirt junior, forward, No. 2
• Kobe King, redshirt sophomore, guard, No. 23
• Brad Davison, junior, guard, No. 34
• Nate Reuvers, junior, forward, No. 35

North Carolina State

• Jericole Hellems, sophomore, forward, No. 4
• Braxton Beverly, junior, guard, No. 10
• Markell Johnson, senior, guard, No. 11
• C.J. Bryce, redshirt senior, forward, No. 13
• Manny Bates, redshirt freshman, center, No. 15