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GAME NOTES: The Wisconsin Badgers return home to the Kohl Center Wednesday for a date with the Wolfpack of North Carolina State in the latest edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The Badgers are fresh off a runner-up finish at the Old Spice Classic where they fell to Notre Dame, 58-51, in the championship on Sunday. Wisconsin had defeated Manhattan and Boston College to reach the final. Senior Jon Leuer had a game-high 19 points in the title game and earned All-Tournament honors after pacing UW in scoring all three games. He averaged 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 blocks during the tourney. A stingy Badger defense held opponents to an average of 49.3 points per game during the run.

NC State will embark on its first true road test of the year Wednesday. The lone loss for the Wolfpack thus far came to then 20th-ranked Georgetown in the title match of the Charleston Classic on November 21. The 82-67 final was not indicative of the fight the Wolfpack took to the Hoyas that night. The game was tied at halftime and NCSU went in front early in the second half before a backbreaking 15-0 run took its toll on coach Sidney Lowe's bunch. However, the Wolfpack bounced back with a 77-67 home win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday. Scott Wood sparked a key 10-0 run with a pair of three-pointers in the second half to help assure the win. Freshman Lorenzo Brown led the way with 13 points.

These two proud programs have met just once previously, with the Badgers taking the Wolfpack out in the Sweet 16 of the 2005 NCAA Tournament via a 65-56 triumph. Wisconsin has won its last five against teams from the ACC, including wins over Duke and Virginia Tech in the last two Big Ten-ACC Challenges. NC State on the other hand has won four of its five home games in the challenge.

The 6-10 Leuer, a preseason All-Big Ten selection and Naismith Trophy candidate, leads UW in scoring with 18.2 points and rebounding at 7.0 per game. The Badgers hold healthy differentials in both categories this season, having outscored opponents by an average of 15.2 points and outrebounded the competition by 7.3 caroms per contest. Overall, Wisconsin shoots 44.2 percent from the floor and 32 percent from beyond the arc. It gets a solid contribution from junior guard Jordan Taylor, whose 13.3 points per game is second on the team.

With last season's top scorer and rebounder Tracy Smith lost for the time being with a knee injury, Brown has stepped up to lead NC State with 12.6 points per game. Sophomore DeShawn Painter has stepped into the starting five in the absence of Smith and filled in admirably with 9.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in 23.8 minutes over the last four games. He tied a career high with 12 points the last time out and has emerged as a nice compliment to the Wolfpack's four double-digit scoring threats. Wood (11.4 ppg), Ryan Harrow (10.8) and C.J. Leslie (10.0) rank behind Brown in scoring depth. Overall, NCSU shoots 45.4 percent from the floor, barely 30 percent on threes and a shaky 70.1 percent from the foul line.

While the Wolfpack have a lot of weapons and have shown an ability to play tough, Wisconsin is the more well-rounded team here and should handle the competition at home.