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The No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers took apart No. 22 Syracuse 77-60 Tuesday evening in the opening game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, and in doing so, provided ample game tape that every future Orange opponent ought to study.

Syracuse is known for its matchup zone. They play long and athletic and apply constant perimeter pressure, and usually it ends with you forcing up a tough, contested shot after a bunch of go-nowhere ball movement without any sort of penetration. Well, Wisconsin flipped that on its head Tuesday night, consistently getting into the gaps and orchestrating much of its offense through Nigel Hayes at the high post.

Check out this crisp ball movement punctuated by a beautiful high-low pass from Hayes to Ethan Happ, who was a monster all night for the Badgers with 24 points and 13 boards:

That is just a thing of basketball beauty, and not something easily pulled off against the 'Cuse zone.

Hayes has struggled with his shot to start the year. Last week he went a combined 5-of-20 from the field, including 1-of-11 from 3, against North Carolina and Georgetown. He wasn't much better on Tuesday, going 4-of-11 for nine points, but it was his playmaking that stood out all night as he wound up with a season-high 10 assists. Every time he touched the ball it felt like Syracuse was a man down as the whole zone started to collapse around him.

With Hayes directing much of the game from that high-post area, Happ, as mentioned, had one of the biggest games of his career. Once he and Hayes got their rhythm going an the Orange started to collapse, the Badgers' shooting opened up to the tune of 11-of-23 from 3-point range.

More Badger ball movement:

Indeed, Hayes and Wisconsin seem to have found their identity as they looked every bit like the team that made it to the Sweet 16 a year ago.