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NCAA Basketball: 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge preview and predictions

By Austin Walther

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Michigan Wolverines head Basketball Coach Jon Beilein watches the action during the first half of the game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Crisler Center on November 23, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Chattanooga Mocs 83-55. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Michigan Wolverines head Basketball Coach Jon Beilein watches the action during the first half of the game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Crisler Center on November 23, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Chattanooga Mocs 83-55. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Game 7: NC State @ No. 25 Wisconsin

TV Schedule: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 9 p.m. ET ESPN2

Arena: Kohl Center, Madison, WI

Wisconsin believes that they’re back. I know we haven’t hit December yet, but the team seems to be playing so much better than a season ago. The game that really did it for them was against Xavier. Say what you want about the Musketeers this season, but they like the revenge game. Beating two power-conference teams in the Bahamas is great. Losing by just eight to their clone Virginia isn’t bad.

NC State was a Tournament team last year. It’s going to be hard this season with the guys they lost and their non-conference schedule. They’ve only beaten two teams inside the KenPom top-300 out of six wins. Vanderbilt, Auburn and Penn State all await, but they need this win over Wisconsin because ACC play will be brutal as always.

The Wolfpack will be going up against a healthy Wisconsin Badger team. Which means they have a true big-three. The All-American Ethan Happ is averaging a double-double with 17.8 points per game and 12.5 boards. D’Mitrik Trice is a shooter. He had a down game against Virginia, but he’s going to be one of the biggest threats on the court each night. Brad Davison is just under 10 after struggling against the Cavaliers, but that’ll happen.

NC State is led by a lot of guard. Torin Dorn is their leading scorer at 18 points per game, hauling in almost seven boards and knocking down over 10 triples. The guards can rebound as C.J. Bryce has 12 points and six boards as well. It’s nice to see scoring happening elsewhere other than point guard Markell Johnson and three-point specialist Braxton Beverly.

The Wolfpack has better balanced scoring than Wisconsin. The Badgers tend to rely on Happ, Davison and Trice too much. But it does win them some nice ball games. Wisconsin also has the experience with some good competition already while NC State will be playing by far its best opponent this season.

Prediction: Wisconsin 74, NC State 68