When Wisconsin tips off against North Carolina State on Wednesday as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge it will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools. The Badgers have won the three previous meetings against the Wolfpack as the most recent meeting came a season ago in Madison as the Badgers won 79-75. This will mark the first time Wisconsin will travel to play North Carolina State as the Wolfpack has posted a 5-1 home record this season.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play North Carolina State.
LAYUP: CAN WISCONSIN GET BACK ON TRACK FROM THREE?
To put it simply Wisconsin didn’t shoot the basketball well from three over their two days in Brooklyn as the Badgers shot a combined 9-for-53 (16.9 percent).
In order for Wisconsin to generate an offensive rhythm that kind of shooting from three isn’t going to cut it. On the season North Carolina State is allowing its opponents to shoot 35.2 percent (45-for-128) from three.
Making it important that Wisconsin is able to effectively pass the basketball around and generate post touches as North Carolina State is allowing an average of 29.7 points in the paint. If they are able to consistently attack the paint it should open up an open shot from three.
In particular, Wisconsin is going to need to try and generate open looks for Brevin Pritzl. Pritzl went a combined 2-for-9 over the last two games as he’s shooting 34.5 percent from three, which leads the team (minimum 20 3-point attempts).
Pritzl’s ability to catch the ball in rhythm will give him the best chance of connecting on his 3-point attempt. D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison also need to be able to regain their form from three as well to help create a balance amongst Wisconsin’s offense.
MID-RANGE: WISCONSIN’S ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE BASKETBALL
One area where Wisconsin certainly needs to clean up as the season progresses is in the turnover department. The Badgers are averaging 12.6 turnovers a contest and over Wisconsin’s two days in Brooklyn, that number increased to 14.5 turnovers a game.
Wisconsin needs to find a way of valuing the basketball and not allow for opposing opponents to generate points off of their miscues as the Badgers on the year are allowing 11.7 points off of turnovers.
North Carolina State, on the other hand, has been able to consistently cash in on their opponents mistakes. Considering North Carolina State is forcing an average of 17.4 turnovers and turning those turnovers into an average of 16.8 points per game.
In particular, North Carolina State has been able to consistently create turnovers thanks to generating steals as they’re averaging eight per game. Three different players for the Wolfpack have at least registered 11 steals as C.J. Bryce leads the way with 13, Devon Daniels has 12, and Markell Johnson has registered 11 steals.
Making it important that Wisconsin doesn’t allow for either of the three to disrupt Wisconsin when they’re on offense. If the Badgers can learn from their mistakes against Richmond and New Mexico it should prevent the Wolfpack from creating too many extra offensive possessions for themselves.
3-POINTER: TAKING PAINT OPPORTUNITIES AWAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Wisconsin’s post defense over their last three games hasn’t been ideal. Considering over that span the Badgers have allowed 32.6 points in the paint.
If Wisconsin isn’t able to shore up its interior defense North Carolina State is going to take advantage. Considering the Wolfpack has made a living down low over their first seven games as they’re averaging 38.5 points in the paint.
North Carolina State does a good job of generating post touches for D.J. Funderburk as he’s one of five players to average double figures as he’s averaging 12 points per game and is shooting 70 percent (21-for-30) from the field.
Outside of generating post touches for Funderburk the Wolfpack also do well of attacking the paint in order to create free throw opportunities. North Carolina State on the season is averaging 21.2 free throw attempts a game and is making 74.5 percent (111-for-149) of their attempts.
Bryce leads the team in free throw attempts with 27 as he’s made 22 of his attempts. Bryce also leads the team in scoring as he’s averaging 16.1 points per game as the Badgers defense will need to be able to keep him out of the lane and make him earn his points by forcing him to settle for jump shots.
If Wisconsin can it will disrupt North Carolina State’s offense and force them to settle for shots from the perimeter as they’re shooting 33.1 percent (50-for-151) from three.