BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – Sam Dekker, the hardened pro, and Connor Essegian, the precocious freshman, were first introduced over the summer. Little did they likely know at the time how much they share – starting with their unbridled enthusiasm for playing the game that they've always loved.

Neither needs an introduction to scoring. During their illustrious high school careers, they combined for over 5,000 points. Dekker, the Cheesehead from Sheboygan Lutheran, is the No. 4 all-time scorer in Wisconsin. Essegian, the Hoosier from Central Noble, is No. 10 on the career list in Indiana.

Dekker scored 2,593 points. Essegian had 2,526. They are conversant in shot-making. And that can lead to an informative podcast. Which it has. Essegian was a guest on the first episode of The Varsity Beat podcast hosted by Dekker, 28, who's playing for the London (England) Lions in the British Basketball League.

"I knew Sam Dekker just from college basketball – and from him playing professionally and overseas – and obviously from being one of the all-time greats here," Essegian said. "I'm still learning a lot about him. In the summer, I talked to him a little bit. And we're starting to get to know each other."

Essegian has yet to listen to the podcast. But he was planning on doing so after Thursday's practice. During one exchange, he will hear Dekker declaring, "You can see that joy you have. You're talking to the crowd, you're getting that energy up … You're just out there playing the game you love."


Ten years ago, Dekker was the precocious frosh. Coming off the bench in 32 of 35 games during the 2012-13 season, he averaged 22.3 minutes and 9.6 points. Whenever he reported to the scorer's table, there was a murmur in the Kohl Center crowd, an anticipation of some offensive fireworks.

It's much the same with Essegian, who's averaging 22.3 minutes and 10.3 points off the bench. Dekker brought that up to him – that people are excited by his mere entrance into the game. "Do you feel that?" he asked. "Because I felt that. It's a good feeling to have. Do you feel that as a player?"

Responded Essegian, "I do a little bit. I try to not focus on it … but in the game, in the moment, there are times when it's too good of a feeling (not to) … to see everyone backing you up and wanting you to go in and do well … It kind of gives me a little energy, too, I'm not going to lie."

Dekker responded, "I know that feeling, man. It's rare air. Wow, people are excited to see me come into the game. And right there, it's almost a confidence boost in itself." He followed up, "What has it been like transitioning (this year) to knowing you have to be an energy guy and hit big shots?"

Acknowledged Essegian, "It's been different. I can't say it has been easy, either. In high school, being the man, the guy, you're relied on 32 minutes. Now coming in off the bench, and not really being that guy every night, it goes back to my competitive nature …"


Dekker pointed out something Essegian already knew. He's on everybody's scouting report.

"Every game you've played is in their system and they're watching your every move," Essegian confirmed to Dekker. "Guys IQ's are so much higher that you're going against. From Game One to now, I feel has been a big difference in how people are playing me. They're starting to realize some things."

Clarifying some things, Essegian said, "A couple of my moves. Or just the way I move in general."

He went on, "I have to keep playing and find different ways to do things."

Dekker knows that feeling all too well.

. . . .

Last Saturday, the Badgers played without the injured Tyler Wahl and lost, 79-69, at Illinois. Essegian struggled. He took only five shots (three from beyond the arc) and made only two. He finished with five points, the fewest that he has scored since the third game of the season against Green Bay.

"There were definitely times when I got frustrated," said Essegian, who was primarily checked by RJ Melendez, a 6-7, 205-pound sophomore. "It was one of the first games where I really felt the physicality. They were basically everywhere that I was … they knew where I was going.

"I would say Illinois was a complete learning game for me."

On his Twitter account, he posted that he would use that experience to "Fuel the fire."

"Teams are trying to keep him from even getting the catch," observed UW assistant coach Dean Oliver. "They're really kind of blowing up all the screens, trying to stay on top of him, making life difficult as far as even touching the ball because they know once he gets it, he's always a threat.

"The scouting report is out on him. Teams are really trying to deny him."

What's the best advice Oliver, who scored 1,561 points at Iowa, could pass along to Essegian?

"You have to play smart," said Oliver, who had 124 starts with the Hawks (1997-01). "You have to continue to cut hard. He had to learn that he can't dance around and try to outmaneuver these guys. You've just got to make hard cuts and draw fouls that way and then keep moving. Don't get frustrated.

"The other thing about it is when you finally do get a touch, you don't have to shoot it every time. You still have to keep that patience. That's one thing that young players tend to do when they start getting denied and they finally get that ball, they feel like they have to make a play."

Late in the Illinois game, Essegian scored on a lay-up. It was a confidence builder.

"Oh, for sure," Oliver said. "Any lay-ups that you can get shooters, it's always going to get them going. That's what we talk about. If your shot is not going, or you're not able to get open, get to that free throw line or get yourself a nice cut for a lay-up.

"Those are some opportunities that Connor is going to have because of how teams are guarding him. The back-cuts and slips and things like that are going to be open …" Oliver sensed his frustration at Illinois. "You just have to learn from it,'' he said. "He can shake things off that a lot of freshmen can't."

In Tuesday's first half against Michigan State, Essegian led the Badgers in scoring with 10 points. He made 4-of-5 field goal attempts, 2-of-2 from beyond the 3-point line. In the second half, he was limited to two shots and one basket by 6-foot guard Tyson Walker, a veteran of 102 career games.

"He was just extremely fast, and he was pretty physical, too, for not being as big as Melendez," Essegian said. "It was good for me to see different sides of the game like that." Part of his focus was on "not trying to force things" with the thinking "if I'm trying to force things, it hurts the team."

In this context, he reiterated, "The more I let things come to me, even if I'm just using myself to get teammates open, whether I'm getting 10 shots or zero shots, whatever it is, if I just let the game come to me and my team then good things will come in the end."


Essegian grew up hooping in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area, a three-hour drive from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, the site of Saturday's game between the Badgers and Hoosiers. "I've probably been there not as much as you'd think," he said. "Probably five times, maybe a little less."

There should be a fairly large Essegian cheering section in the building. "Oh, goodness," he exclaimed. "Could be a couple 100 people – just the people I know, friends and family. I can't imagine where everyone is going to be sitting. They could be in the top corner or the front row. Who knows?"

Essegian does know one thing, "It will be good to go back and play in front of people that I've been close to my whole life." On handling the emotion of his homecoming, he said, "I feel like I've done a good job of that in my career not letting the emotions get the best of me.

"It's going to be a challenge. But I'm up for it.

"For me, I'm just trying to go out there and play basketball."

Miles and miles away, Dekker would approve this message. With a grin.