NCAA Top 25 Basketball Odds: No 7 Wisconsin at No 5 North Carolina
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Frank Martin
Fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels looks to rebound from a stunning early season loss when it hosts No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday. The Tar Heels were a nearly unanimous No. 1 before suffering a 90-80 defeat against UNLV in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The Badgers, meanwhile, are coming off a 73-56 rout of Brigham Young. UNC sophomore forward Harrison Barnes (ankle) is not at full strength but is still expected to play.
- #7 Wisconsin Badgers @ #5 North Carolina Tar Heels
When: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Where: Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com
The Tar Heels have opened as 7.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Wisconsin Badgers (6-0): The Badgers lead all Division I teams in most major defensive categories, including points allowed (39.2) and opponent field goal percentage (30.5), but that defense will be tested by a UNC team averaging 88 points. Wisconsin is also outrebounding its opponents by nearly 14 per game. Sophomore guard Ben Brust (12.8 points) leads a group of four players scoring in double figures, while junior center Jared Berggren adds 12.3 points. Senior point guard Jordan Taylor averages 11.0 points and 5.8 assists.
North Carolina Tar Heels (5-1): The Tar Heels boast one of the country's most explosive starting lineups, but that arsenal could be significantly weakened if Barnes, the team's top scorer at 17.3 points, is not 100 percent. His absence would put more pressure on the other two UNC forwards, junior John Henson (15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) and senior Tyler Zeller (13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds). Sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall ranks second nationally with 10.8 assists per game.
1. North Carolina won the only previous meeting, 88-82 in a 2005 NCAA Tournament regional final.
2. Wisconsin sports a 20-11 all-time record against ACC teams, with only UNC and Wake Forest (3-0) boasting a winning record against the Badgers.
3. Opposing teams are averaging only 5.7 assists against Wisconsin - well below North Carolina's team average of 20.8 and just over half of what Marshall alone averages.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Badgers 66, Tar Heels 72
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ben brust - dean e. smith student activities center - harrison barnes - jared berggren - john henson - jordan taylor - kendall marshall - north carolina tar heels - tyler zeller - wisconsin badgers
