Tag: connor essegian

A closer look at the career of new transfer Connor Essegian

Connor Essegian announced his commitment to the Cornhuskers on social media.

Nebraska basketball added their fourth player from the transfer portal on Sunday afternoon. Connor Essegian announced his commitment to the Cornhuskers on social media.

Essegian was a member of the All-Big Ten freshman team during the 2022-23 season for the Wisconsin Badgers. He appeared in 35 games, making 19 starts while averaging 11.2 points on an average of 27 minutes per game

As a sophomore he would appearing 33 games while making 0 starts on only seven minutes per game. He was also reportedly considering Indiana and Maryland as transfer destinations.

Find a photo gallery of Connor Essegian’s collegiate career below.

Wisconsin transfer Connor Essegian commits to Nebraska

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have landed a transfer guard from a fellow Big Ten program.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have added a Big Ten transfer to their roster for the 2024-25 season. Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian announced his commitment to the Badgers on Sunday afternoon.

The rising junior played 68 games for the Badgers over the last two seasons including making 19 starts as a freshman in 2022-23.

After averaging 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists as a freshman, Essegian saw his averages drop to 3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.2 rebounds while also seeing his minutes per game get slashed from 27.4 to 7.3.

Essegian is the fourth transfer to commit to the Huskers this offseason joining North Dakota State big man Andrew Morgan, Utah guard Rollie Worster, and Rutgers guard Gavin Griffiths.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

BREAKING: Former Wisconsin Badgers guard commits to a Big Ten rival

Reaction to Connor Essegian committing to a Big Ten rival?

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian announced his transfer commitment to Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.

The fan-favorite Badgers guard had also visited Big Ten rivals Maryland and Indiana, but opted for the Cornhuskers in the end.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

Essegian struggled in 2023-24 after falling far in the rotation, averaging just 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game. Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg hopes he returns to his freshman year form — 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game on 40% shooting and 36% from three.

He joins a Nebraska program that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 in 2023-24. Hoiberg has the Cornhuskers headed in the right direction, and is now looking to take the next step into contention.

The now-former Badger is sure to play more at his new home. He transfers with two years of eligibility remaining.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard must replace the departed production of Essegian, Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl. He and his staff are hard at work in the transfer portal to mitigate those losses, though they are yet to receive a commitment.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Former Wisconsin guard to announce transfer commitment later today (Sunday, April 21)

Former Wisconsin guard to announce transfer commitment later today

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian will announce his transfer commitment at 3 p.m. central, 4 p.m. eastern on Sunday, April 21.

The fan-favorite guard earned plenty of interest after entering the transfer portal on March 24. He’s taken official visits to Ole Miss and to Big Ten rivals Nebraska, Maryland and Indiana.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

Essegian recently received an On3 transfer prediction to choose the Big Ten rival Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The sharpshooter struggled in 2023-24 after losing much of his playing time, averaging just 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game. There remains promise from his freshman season, however, which saw the guard average 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points.

Essegian is one of numerous Wisconsin Badgers to have entered the transfer portal since the end of the season. A.J. Storr has already committed to Kansas, while Chucky Hepburn, Gus Yalden and others remain uncommitted.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin is still working to replace the minutes, production and experience of departed starters Hepburn, Storr and Tyler Wahl. Essegian is another loss to add to that list — as his role would’ve likely increased in 2024-25.

All signs now point towards him suiting up for a Big Ten rival.

UPDATE: Essegian committed to Nebraska at 3 p.m. central

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Wisconsin basketball in contact with versatile transfer forward

Wisconsin basketball in contact with versatile transfer forward

Wisconsin basketball has been in contact with former South Florida forward Kasean Pryor per On3’s Jamie Shaw. 

At 6-foot-10, Pryor entered the transfer portal over a week ago as a rising senior. A myriad of schools including UConn, Arizona, Gonzaga, Illinois, USC, Michigan and Wisconsin have reached out to Pryor since he made his decision to transfer. 

Related: Tracking Wisconsin basketball’s reported transfer portal visits and targets

That number of programs is now up to 25, according to Shaw.

The Chicago, Illinois native has displayed gradual improvement since his freshman and sophomore campaigns at Boise State. 

After reaching the hardwood a combined 13 times in his first two seasons in Idaho, Pyror transferred to Northwest Florida State and averaged 14.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 35 appearances for the Raiders in 2022-2023.  He also shot a respectable 46.2% from the field, 35.2% outside and 79.9% from the charity stripe in 28.1 minutes per game. Pryor elected to transfer to South Florida following his third collegiate year 

His 13.0-point, 7.9-rebound marks this past season vaulted him into the No. 47 small forward spot on 247sports transfer rankings. 

With the departures of AJ Storr, Chucky Hepburn, Tyler Wahl and Conor Essegian, Wisconsin is certainly in need of a boost in size and versatility. Pryor’s length and veteran savvy could provide a spark for Gard’s squad entering his 10th year manning the sidelines.

Pryor is yet to make any transfer decision.

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Former Wisconsin Badgers guard visits a third Big Ten rival

Former Wisconsin Badgers guard visits a third Big Ten rival

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian visited Big Ten rival Nebraska on Thursday, according to On3’s Robin Washut.

The sharpshooter has visited South Carolina, plus Big Ten rivals Maryland, Indiana and now Nebraska.

Related: An updated look at Wisconsin basketball’s 2024-25 roster after Chucky Hepburn’s departure

Essegian seems to have found solid footing since entering the transfer portal after Wisconsin’s 2023-24 season came to a close. The season was a struggle for the sophomore, with his numbers dropping to just 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game.

But schools see the potential from his freshman campaign which included per-game averages of 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points.

The former Badger is considering a Nebraska program that made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014 this past season. Head coach Fred Hoiberg has the Cornhuskers headed in the right direction, and is now looking to take the next step into contention.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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LOOK: Former Wisconsin basketball guard visits a Big Ten rival

LOOK: Former Wisconsin basketball guard visits a Big Ten rival

Former Wisconsin basketball guard Connor Essegian took a visit to Big Ten rival Maryland, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.

Essegian departed after two years with the Badgers. The young guard had a fantastic freshman season in 2022-23 before losing much of his playing time in 2023-24. He averaged just 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game in 2023-24, down from 27.4 and 11.7, respectively, in 2022-23.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin basketball’s reported transfer portal visits and targets

He entered the portal last month after Wisconsin’s season came to a close with an NCAA Tournament loss to James Madison. The move was a bit of a surprise after a recent report indicated he might stick around. But it is not a surprise given his slide down the depth chart and outlook with the program.

Essegian was a fan-favorite in Madison — enough so that some fans were calling for him to play more down the stretch of the season. But those fans should recognize the grass is likely greener for him elsewhere given Wisconsin’s influx of backcourt talent.

With interest already reported between Essegian and Michigan, there appears to be more Big Ten teams in the mix.

 

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Report: Michigan basketball targeting Wisconsin transfer

Go get ’em, Dusty! #GoBlue

It’s not taking long for new Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May to get to work.

The Wolverines officially introduced May on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the maize and blue reportedly have mutual interest with a high-profile target in the transfer portal, and one from in the conference at that.

Earlier this week, Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian was announced to be entering the transfer portal, and though his 2023-24 wasn’t nearly as productive as his 2022-23 was, he’s quickly becoming a hot commodity. Given that Michigan’s roster has been decimated by the transfer portal, it’s good news that May and Essegian are now in contact, per The Michigan Insider’s Davis Moseley.

Essegian is rated a four-star according to the 247Sports transfer portal rankings as the No. 70 overall player available. He averaged 7.3 minutes in 33 games played and 3.2 points per game in 2023-24. However, in 2022-23, Essegian averaged 27.4 minutes in 35 games and scored an average of 11.7 points per game and 3.7 rebounds.

Mutual interest reported between former Wisconsin G Connor Essegian and a Big Ten rival

There is mutual interest between former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian and Michigan, according to a report from 247Sports.

There is mutual interest between former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian and Michigan, according to a report from 247Sports’ Davis Moseley.

The young guard entered the transfer portal on Sunday after a quiet second season with the Badgers. He averaged 3.2 points and 7.3 minutes per game in 2023-24, down from 11.7 points and 27.4 minutes per game as a freshman in 2022-23.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

Essegian transferring isn’t entirely surprising. It would have been tough for him to crack Wisconsin’s guard rotation in 2024-25 with Chucky Hepburn, John Blackwell, Max Klesmit and A.J. Storr set to return.

A potential transfer to Michigan would certainly be an interesting twist in Essegian’s relationship with the Wisconsin faithful. He remains a fan favorite even with the decision to transfer, though landing at Michigan could change things.

The Wolverines are working to rebuild their program after firing Juwan Howard following an 8-24 season. Former Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May was recently hired and appears to already be at work in the portal.

For more on Wisconsin’s roster and transfer portal activity, check out Badgers Wire’s ongoing 2024 transfer portal tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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BREAKING: Fan-favorite Wisconsin Badgers guard enters transfer portal

BREAKING: Fan-favorite Wisconsin Badgers guard enters transfer portal

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team’s season ended Friday night versus James Madison in the first round of March Madness, and guard Connor Essegian announced on Sunday that he will enter the transfer portal.

Essegian had an impressive freshman campaign in 2022-2023, averaging 11.7 points per game while hitting a freshman-record 69 3-pointers. However, playing time was hard to find for him this year.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

The 6-foot-4 guard saw his average minutes drop from 27.4 to 7.3 minutes per game in 2023-2024. He averaged just 3.2 points per game. The emergence of transfer wing AJ Storr, plus Essegian’s shortcomings defensively were the driving factors in the stark change in usage.

The news came as a shock to Badgers fans. Essegian said 10 days ago he would return to Wisconsin.

A fan favorite in Madison, Essegian will likely look for an opportunity that provides him with a more direct path to meaningful minutes during his junior season.

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