Three takeaways from Syracuse men's basketball's loss at Wisconsin

Three days after struggling offensively in a loss to South Carolina at the Barclays Center, the No. 22 Syracuse men’s basketball team was topped by No. 17 Wisconsin, 77-60, in Madison, Wisconsin. Here are three takeaways from the game, which was part of the ACC/BIG 10 Challenge.

DaJuan Coleman can be an effective low-post scorer

After struggling against South Carolina, Coleman found a rhythm on the offensive end of the floor on Tuesday. The center opened the game with a score off a strong post move. Four minutes later, Coleman — who entered the contest averaging just 5.0 points per game — scored four consecutive points for the Orange, knocking down a mid-range jumper and hitting a pair of free throws.

Coleman was efficient in the paint and around the rim, hitting five of his seven shots from the field. He finished with a season-high 12 points and three rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Coleman had not played more than 15 minutes in any game this season.

Guards Andrew White III and John Gillon joined Coleman in double-figures. White scored all of his 14 points in the first half, while Gillon chipped in 10.

Rebounding hurt the Orange

After losing the rebounding battle, 37-30, against South Carolina on Saturday, SU struggled on the boards against Wisconsin. The Badgers dominated the Orange on the glass, outrebounding SU by 15, 40-25, in the game. Wisconsin managed to extend multiple possessions, corralling 14 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second chance points.

Wisconsin forwards Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ combined for 24 total rebounds, one less than the entire SU team totaled in the game. No Orange player recorded more than five boards in the contest.

Hayes’ interior passing caused the SU defense to scramble

Wisconsin found holes in Syracuse’s 2-3 zone and got the ball into Hayes’ hands at the free throw line. The senior forward then, on multiple occasions, distributed quick, accurate passes both on the perimeter and inside. This left the Orange scrambling on defense, opening up gaps in its zone, which the Badgers exposed.

Overall, Wisconsin shot 49.2 percent from the field and knocked down 11 of its 23 3-point attempts. Hayes finished with just nine points, but added 11 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. Happ scored a game-high 24 points, hitting 10 of his 12 shot attempts, while senior guard Bronson Koenig drained six 3-pointers.