The Syracuse University men's basketball team moved to 4-0 on the season by defeating visiting Monmouth 78-73 at the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday night.

The Hawks are now 1-3.

While the Orange remain unbeaten, this game exposed some red flags that hadn't been as important previously. 

Here's what you need to know:

Free-throw shooting is a real issue

Syracuse won its first three games by more than 30 points each, so the lack of success at the line hadn't really mattered, but it did today. The Orange entered play as the 319th-ranked free-throw shooting team in the nation, and a 19-for-33 on Tuesday won't do much to quell those doubts. 

As the games get closer and more intense, Syracuse will have to be able to close games out. They couldn't today, as a double-digit lead with five minutes to play evaporated to two points with less than a minute. Trailing 76-73 with 10 seconds, Monmouth had a chance to tie, all because the Orange couldn't close at the line easily. The Orange are fortune to have pulled this game out.

Inside the numbers

--J.J. Starling returned to action (and started), scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He was the team's leading scorer a year ago at 17.8 ppg.

--Four Syracuse starters were in double-figures, including Donnie Freeman, who had 18 points. While the rest of the team struggled at the line, he was 12-of-14. The rest of the team? Seven of 19.

--It was the first rough game for freshman Kiyan Anthony, who went back to the bench in favor of Starling. He scored just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting. He had 19 and 18 in his last two games, respectively.

--Syracuse entered the game as the best defensive team in the nation, and allowed more than 50 points for the first time. Monmouth shot 39 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three.

Biggest storylines

Starling's return and Anthony's struggles. Are they related?

On one hand, having your leading scorer (and a senior) back, is always a good thing. But did the change in rhythm have an impact on Anthony? We will have to see as we move forward.

And again, the free-throw line. Fifty-eight percent won't cut it as the game's get bigger. Monmouth shot 80 percent (20-of-25), allowing them to keep the game within reach.

Area of improvement

While the free-throw line has remained an issue, the Orange were better from distance on Tuesday, going 7-of-17 (41 percent). They remain an interior team (38 points in the paint), but you have to be able to stretch a defense and they did today.

Up next

Syracuse will take on No. 2 Houston on Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. ET. It's the Players Era Festival and the Orange will play Kansas afterwards.

Keep it locked to Roundtable for additional coverage from the postgame news conferences.

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