14 Syracuse vs Wisconsin: ACC/B1G Challenge Player Ratings

I've now seen all of the ACC/B1G Challenge games, and am working on the Recaps.

WISCONSIN 66 @ 14 SYRACUSE 58 (OT)

Wisconsin Badgers

F Ethan Happ: 9

The Badgers' frontcourt played really well against Syracuse. Ethan Happ had a breakout performance. He scored a season high 18 points. Grabbed a season high 15 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, and blocked a season high three blocks. Ethan Happ outworked Syracuse's bigs, Lydon and Roberson. He does not have a ton of offensive upside. He has trouble finishing in traffic, and his jumper is inconsistent at best. However, he played really well this game, and did a great job defending Tyler Lydon, as he is athletic enough to guard him out on the perimeter as well as inside.

F Nigel Hayes: 8

Nigel Hayes is the key for this Wisconsin team. He has a great combination of size, 6-8 245lbs, and athleticism. He has not shot well this year, 36% from the field this season, and just 27.3% from three. However, he does many good things for the team. This was in line with his performance against Syracuse. He made only 5 of 15 shot attempts, scoring 15 points. However, he grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished six assists. Hayes often ran the offense, playing out on the perimeter to see over the zone. This proved effective, especially in the first half when he found Vitto Brown open for jumpers. Hayes also played excellent defense on Malachi Richardson. Due to handling the ball so much at the top of the zone, Hayes did turn the ball over five times.

F Vitto Brown: 8

Vitto Brown had a great first half, scoring 11 of his 14 points in that frame. He can be an inconsistent shooter. His field goal percentage is 41.2%, and he's been shooting just 21.1% from 3pt range. However, he shot six of nine this game, and two of three from beyond the arc. More consistent performances from Brown will make Wisconsin a dangerous team. On defense, Brown gives the team a third forward 6'8 or above. He blocked three of Syracuse's shots.

G Bronson Koenig: 6

Bronson Koenig was supposed to be the next star of the Big-10. He's averaging over 15 points a game, but every time watch he's terrible. In fact, against good competition Koenig has been terrible. 16.7% shooting percentage against Georgetown, 16.7% against Oklahoma, and 33.3% against Syracuse. Koenig shot just 3-9, for 12 points. He did make some important FT down the stretch, and had six rebounds. He was also the only Wisconsin player not to turn the ball over, despite playing 42 minutes, and the team recording 20 turnovers this game.

G Zak Showalter: 6.5

Showalter is the less proficient scorer on Wisconsin's starting lineup. He scored only six points, on 3-6 shooting, missing all three of his 3pt attempts. However, he did make five assist, and grab six rebounds. He also did a nice job on defense, and drew several offensive fouls.

F Charlie Thomas: 4.5

Charlie Thomas is another body to throw into the frontcourt. He is not an asset on offense, and missed all four of his field goal attempts. He grabbed two rebounds, but was much less effective than Wisconsion's starters.

F Khalil Iverson: N/A

Did not play enough minutes to qualify.

F Alex Illikainen: N/A

Did not play enough minutes to qualify.

Team Rating: 7.35

Wisconsin finally picked up a signature win after losing to Georgetown and Oklahoma earlier in the season. I can see this team bouncing back this season. The frontcourt is very strong. They aren't huge with no starter taller than 6'9, but they are balanced, and both Brown and Hayes are able to shoot from outside. They are also tenacious rebounders. If the frontcourt can continue playing like this, and Koenig shoots more consistently, they will be a dangerous team going into the Big-Ten season.

Syracuse Orange

C DaJuan Coleman: N/A

DaJuan Coleman only played five minutes, and did not play in the second half. He grabbed three rebounds early in the game, and missed the only shot he took. Syracuse lose the rebounding battle 25 to 51. Yes, Wisconsin doubled Syracuse's rebound total. Syracuse was dominated inside. One of the biggest problems I have with Jim Boeheim is, he rarely makes adjustments. This game required Syracuse to make an adjustment. They were not shooting well, and Wisconsin was dominating them inside. I know Syracuse loves Tyler Lydon and Malachi Richardson, but one of them should have gone to the bench in the second half in favor of Coleman. Coleman could have helped diminish Ethan Happ's presence inside. Coleman has a big body to block out, and could have put more pressure on Wisconsin's front line. Instead Syracuse allowed Lydon and Richardson shoot a combined 1-10 from 3pt range. Nice work.

F Tyler Roberson: 4

Roberson has been extremely inconsistent on the offensive end. He shot just 3-7 for seven points this game. Syracuse is a more perimeter oriented team than they have been in recent years. However, it is important that they still have a presence in the post. Roberson is a great rebounder, but he only had two this game. If I was just given that stat, and I didn't watch the game, I would have known Syracuse lost. Roberson got into foul trouble, and fouled out in overtime. He did have three blocks, but left Vitto Brown open on his side in the first half for easy buckets as well.

F Malachi Richardson: 5.5

Malachi Richardson had one of his rougher offensive performances of the year. In fact, this was the first time he failed to score in double digits in his college career (all of seven games). He shot just 3-11 from the field, and 1-7 from 3pt range. His lack of effectiveness on offense was due to Nigel Hayes guarding him, and giving him no easy shots. Hayes was a matchup nightmare for the freshman. He is bigger than Richardson, and athletic enough to prevent Richardson from driving on him. Richardson did make an effort on the glass, and led the team in rebounding, with seven. Impressively, Richardson did not turn the ball over. So, that's progress.

G Trevor Cooney: 5.5

I usually complain about Cooney's shot selection. But, I'm not going to do that for this game. He took ten shots, made three of them, and shot 2-5 from 3pt range. I'll give Cooney 8-10 shots a game to try, and get hot. It's when he's taking 12,13, and sometimes 16, or 17 shots when I have to complain. Cooney was one of the only Syracuse players to shoot better than 50% from the FT line. He made more than half, six, or the team's total made free throws, eleven. Cooney is good on the defensive end. He's a great zone defender, and even though he did not have a steal he helped the team force 20 turnovers, and kept Wisconsin shooting only 27.8% from 3pt range.

G Michael Gbinije: 7.5

Gbinije was the one highlight on Syracuse's team this game. He is proving to be a reliable star, and that's good for Syracuse in the long run this season. Gbinije shot 7-16, and an impressive four of eight from 3pt range. He scored 19 points, which has become his season average. Gbinije also had five assists, and five steals. However, Gbinije was terrible in overtime. He shot 1-4 from the field, and missed one of two free throws. He did a terrible job managing the game in overtime, which led to Syracuse loosing. It's overtime, take the ball to the basket. Do not shoot jumpers early in the shot clock. Thanks.

F Tyler Lydon: 5

Tyler Lydon had performed admirably prior to this game. However, he looked completely overmatched against Wisconsin. Lydon has been a very efficient shooter thus far this season. He has averaged double digit points, while taking only 6.6 shots per game, and is shooting 50%. Most of his points have come easy. His 3pt attempts have come while wide open. This is because defenses need to focus on Gbinije, Cooney, and Richardson, and the players guarding Lydon are often not used to having to come out to the perimeter to contest shots. Wisconsin was ready for Lydon, and Ethan Happ did an excellent job defending him. Lydon shot just two for six, and missed all three of his 3pt attempts. He also only grabbed four rebounds, as he struggled against Wisconsin's more active forwards. Lydon still did a pretty good job on defense. He had two steals, and two blocks, and prevented easy shots under the basket. I'm still concerned about him facing bigger competition, Wisconsin's biggest player is 6'9.

G Kaleb Joseph: 7

Kaleb Joseph is qualified to be graded for just the second time this season. Joseph came in when Roberson got into foul trouble, causing Syracuse to play small with Gbinije and Richardson on the wings. Joseph actually played well, while on the court. He shot 2-5 from the field, doing a good getting to the basket. He got to the free throw line, making two of three attempts from the line. He also dished out two assists in 14 minutes. Joseph did the best job managing the game, while he was on the court, and he did not have a turnover. I was very impressed with the way he played point guard, and Syracuse would have been better served inserting him into the lineup to start overtime.

Team Rating: 5.75

This game is the answer to the question: How will Syracuse fare when their shooters aren't on? They lose to fringe top-25 teams. I actually think Syracuse is a top 20-30 team themselves, and were overrated in the latest polls. The team's frontcourt has been extremely inconsistent, at best, and will struggle against teams with good frontcourts. They need to give Coleman more of a chance, and Boeheim needs to do a better job of making changes in the lineup based on the flow of the game. Against Wisconsin, the team needed less Richardson and Cooney, and more Coleman and Joseph. But, Boeheim is going to play the way he wants regardless of the situation. I guess we'll see what Hop's got on Saturday. Georgetown is going to be a tough test. 1. They beat Wisconsin. 2. They have a good frontcourt. 3. It's a primary rivalry.