How Wisconsin Squandered Connor Essegian's Shooting Skills

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates react to the news that the Badgers are losing sophomore guard Connor Essegian to the transfer portal. Last season, Essegian made the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team and played in every game. It was a different story this year. 

“When Essegian had chances, he didn’t make the most of it. But the coaching staff didn't do him any favors,” says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “There were multiple points this season when they could have used his scoring ability — or even the threat of him scoring Essegian was capable of averaging 11 or 12 points in the Big Ten and they essentially wasted his year.” 

Lucas says Essegian remained an upbeat, team player despite averaging 20 fewer minutes per game compared to his first year with the Badgers. 

“When he did enter the game, he seemed to rush himself knowing that he might not be out there for very long. So he took shots he wouldn’t have taken otherwise,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to Indiana. He’s a Hoosier. They could use some players, too.” 

Essegian didn’t see any playing time during Wisconsin’s loss to James Madison in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. After a pretty good run in the Big Ten tourney, the veteran journalists say the Badgers lost their composure in Brooklyn. 

“That was one of the worst first halves maybe ever,” says Lucas. “They picked it up in the second half but where was the fight in the first half?”

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Dylan Brogan. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast with insights and analysis on the Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks from two of Wisconsin’s most experienced sports journalists. Mike Lucas is a veteran sports columnist for the Cap Times and was a Badgers radio color commentator for over 25 years. Tom Oates was a sports reporter and columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal for 40 years.