Efficiency, consistency and stability: The Wisconsin Badgers have embodied them all under the direction of coach Bo Ryan. And as the Badgers continue a journey they hope will lead to a second consecutive Final Four, the North Carolina Tar Heels stand in the way.

The question as both teams head to Los Angeles is whether Roy Williams’ team possesses enough skill and discipline to derail Wisconsin’s most successful campaign to date.

On the surface, North Carolina certainly has the weapons. The Tar Heels are never short on talent, and under Williams, national titles have been claimed in both 2005 and 2009. North Carolina is long, skilled and deep. Point guard Marcus Paige is a potential game-changer, and with a pair of gifted forwards in Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina presents matchup issues for virtually any opponent.

But those qualities rarely faze the Badgers. There have been many times when analysts have noted a supposed gap in talent between an opponent and Wisconsin during Ryan’s tenure. In virtually every case, the Badgers systematically dismiss such talk by sticking to their systems, making shots and frustrating the opposition enough to claim another victory.

Don’t be surprised if Thursday’s clash unfolds in the same way.

Rated one the nation’s most efficient teams offensively, Wisconsin carries an attack that stacks up with any in the country. The Badgers average 72 points per game. As a team, they make nearly half of their attempts from the field. The Badgers also hold opponents to just 27 rebounds and have five players who score at least 8.6 points per game.

In the past, Wisconsin excelled due to a controlled pace that limited possessions while playing intense defense. This season, the Badgers have added a dynamic offense to the mix, making Wisconsin one of the nation’s truly elite teams. In other words, Ryan’s team can play any style and still perform at a high level.

There’s little doubt the Tar Heels can score with the very best. They average almost 78 points per game. With four players who average in double-figures offensively, North Carolina can come at you in waves. The Tar Heels also have 10 players who average at least 10 minutes per outing – meaning they won’t tire and won’t slow down unless the opposition actively limits tempo.

Are they strong enough to overcome the Badgers? On paper, yes. Games with Wisconsin rarely come down to such simplistic assessments, however. Defeating the Badgers instead depends upon the intangibles of execution and willpower. The question is whether North Carolina possesses enough of either to defeat Wisconsin on the big stage.

In that regard, the Badgers probably feel pretty good about their chances. After all, the Tar Heels haven’t been the most consistent bunch in 2014-15.

Considered a top-five team at the start of the season, North Carolina is just 26-11. They went a relatively mediocre 11-7 in the ACC and dropped non-conference games to both Butler and Iowa. The Tar Heels were also swept by arch-rival Duke, a big no-no for any North Carolina basketball team.

Meanwhile, the Badgers have continued steaming right along. Even without injured point guard Traevon Jackson, Wisconsin has piled up win after win. At 33-3, the Badgers claimed both the Big 10 regular season and tournament titles. And with two business-like victories already under their NCAA tournament belt, Wisconsin appears poised for another trip to the pinnacle of college basketball.

Thursday’s game therefore comes down to execution. Can North Carolina maintain their focus long enough to handle a thoroughly disciplined and skilled Wisconsin? An objective observer would likely favor the Badgers. The Tar Heels simply haven’t shown the ability to perform at a high enough level to think differently.

With that said, the NCAA tournament is all about stepping up under the spotlight. North Carolina is dangerous and capable of beating anybody on the right night. Will Thursday evening prove to be the right night? We’ll see soon enough.

Matt Johnson is a Big 10 basketball writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter at mattytheole or “like’ him on Facebook.