Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN college basketball fans will be treated to a matchup between the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (7-0) and the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (7-0) on Wisconsin's home floor. Watch the game free by clicking this link; Duke fans can catch the radio broadcast on 620 The Buzz AM, while Badgers fans may do likewise by tuning in to WIBA 1310.
The dominant storyline ahead of this heavyweight early-season matchup is Duke big man Jahlil Okafor against Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky, but both teams have quality depth that the rest of the players don't want ignored.
"We look at is as Wisconsin vs. Duke. It might happen that they do get matched up on a majority of plays, but at the end of the day it's our five against their five," Wisconsin forward Duje Dukan said.
While that is true, Okafor and Kaminsky both figure to be contenders for the Player of the Year, and they'll do it with contrasting styles.
"He doesn't rush. He takes his time. He makes the right decision ... He's impressive at any age, but being a freshman stands out," Wisconsin assistant coach Gary Close said of Okafor. The Duke freshman is averaging a team-high 17.7 points along with 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
Kaminsky, on the other hand, is a seven-foot sniper from the outside who is averaging 16.6 points and drilling 40 percent of his 3-pointers. He will have his hands full trying to contain Okafor in the post, and said he doesn't care much about the individual matchup.
"This game isn't about me," Kaminsky said. "I really don't care what happens with me in the game as long as we win."
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