Connor Essegian gives Wisconsin another scorer, but Greg Gard focuses on all-around effort
MADISON – Connor Essegian entered the Wisconsin lineup with 12 minutes 5 seconds left in the first half, an unusually early appearance this season for the sophomore guard.
Not surprisingly, the Kohl Center crowed erupted with cheers.
Just 36 seconds later, Essegian rose up and hit a three-pointer.
The crowd was roaring again and Essegian was just warming in UW’s 88-72 victory over Nebraska on Saturday.
“When Connor comes off the bench and give us this we all get excited,” guard Chucky Hepburn said. “We want to see him succeed, so when he is hitting shots like that it gives us momentum, gives the crowd momentum.
“The crowd loves it when he gets into it. We just always look for Connor when he is in the game. We know he is going to knock it down. We believe in him.”
Essegian entered the day averaging 2.5 points and 7.5 minutes per game. He had made just 6 of 24 three-pointers. His defense had been below average, which was the No. 1 factor contributing to his minimal playing time.
Essegian went on to hit 4 of 7 three-pointers Saturday for a season-high 12 points, in just 12 minutes.
“Just making the most (of it) while I’m in there,” he said. “To be able to go out there and play hard and make winning plays on both ends of the floor, that is something I’ve been working on a lot recently.”
His execution on the defensive end wasn’t perfect, but his effort was better and he drew two offensive fouls.
“It’s always something I’ve known I need to get better at,” he acknowledged. “Coach and teammates have been on me about it since I got here.
“That is the area I know I need to get better at.”
Not surprisingly, UW coach Greg Gard focused more on Essegian’s defense and overall game than the 4 three-pointers.
Gard has been challenging Essegian during practice to compete harder. Get angry. Get nasty. Play hard, he has said, and good things will happen.
“Defend, scrap, get a little scratched up and dusty and dirty,” Gard said, “and the shots will go in. He knows he can help this team. But he also knows it is more than just shooting…
“He had some things pointed out, a month or so ago, that he needed to get better at. And it wasn’t going to happen overnight. And it’s still not going to happen overnight. He is not where he can be and needs to be.
“At least he acknowledged it and embraced it…I thought he did some good things today.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Connor Essegian shows progress. Can he build off it?
