GAME NOTES: The NC State Wolfpack open up ACC play in hostile territory, as they invade the Dean E. Smith Center to take on the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Sidney Lowe's Wolfpack are playing terrific basketball entering league play and bring a seven-game win streak into this contest. On Wednesday, NC State used a stifling defensive performance to rout North Carolina Central, 54-29. The Tar Heels will certainly test any vaunted defense, as the team has scored 90+ points in six straight games. The Heels were also in action on Wednesday, outlasting a pesky UNC Asheville squad, 93-81. With the win, UNC finished its non-conference slate undefeated for the first time since 1997-98. The ACC slate will prove to be a bit more difficult if the conference opener is any indication. North Carolina took on nationally-ranked Clemson on the road last weekend and needed overtime to prevail, 90-88. UNC holds a 136-75 edge in the all-time series with NC State and took two of the three meetings last year, including an 89-80 victory in the ACC Tournament championship game.

The Wolfpack are not an offensive juggernaut by any stretch of the imagination. The team is averaging a modest 67.3 ppg, but has however, played great defense, including recording 5.6 blocks per game. There are some offensive assets on the team and the cupboard isn't completely bare. NC State boasts of one of the ACC's top freshmen in J.J. Hickson. The 6-9 forward leads the Wolfpack in several categories, including field-goal percentage (.702), scoring (16.5 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg) and blocked shots (25). Fellow forwards Gavin Grant (13.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Brandon Costner (10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) complete a potent frontcourt trio. The Wolfpack struggled offensively against NC Central this week, connecting on just 36.4 percent from the floor, including a mere 4-of-21 effort from three-point range. Costner led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds. Hickson finished with 13 points and eight boards.

The Tar Heels have done just about everything right this season. The team is as offensively talented as any program in the nation, shooting .492 from the floor and netting a gaudy 92.1 ppg. UNC has also dominated on the glass, outrebounding foes by 11.6 rebounds per game. Additionally, the Tar Heels are forcing 18.4 turnovers per game. It all starts with All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough, who is averaging a near double-double with 21.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Guards Wayne Ellington (18.1 ppg) and Ty Lawson (13.5 ppg, 5.7 apg) provide plenty of backcourt balance. Danny Green (12.7 ppg) has been terrific off the bench, providing a spark for this team. In the win over UNC- Asheville, Hansbrough led four Tar Heels in double digits, with 23 points. Ellington poured in 19 points, on 6-of-11 shooting. Lawson had a strong all- around game, with 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Green once again made the most of his time off the bench, chipping in with 14 points, while doling out seven assists in 23 minutes of work.

NC State is on a roll right now, but that vaunted defense will be stretched to the limit in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels are playing at a different level right now and should be able to outscore the Wolfpack en route to yet another victory.