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Wisconsin basketball surges in KenPom, ESPN’s BPI after win over Nebraska

Wisconsin basketball surges in KenPom, ESPN BPI after win over Nebraska

Wisconsin basketball notched an important win on Sunday. After the team’s seven-game winning streak was recently snapped on the road at UCLA, it bounced back with a dominant 83-55 win over Nebraska.

The Badgers improved to 16-4 (6-3 Big Ten) with the triumph. The result importantly held the team’s spot at No. 4 in the Big Ten standings, still 2 1/2 games behind first-place Michigan State.

The 28-point triumph also adds to Wisconsin’s growing list of dominant conference victories. That resume now includes wins of 31 points (Iowa), 12 (Rutgers), 21 (Minnesota), 12 (USC) and 28 (Nebraska).

Wisconsin’s win-loss record will matter far more for March Madness seeding than how those games are specifically decided. But the team finding dominant wins over inferior competition, plus only losing narrowly to top teams, continues to raise what was already a sky-high ceiling.

Importantly, results like Sunday’s win continue to raise the team’s ranking in predictive metrics, including KenPom and the ESPN BPI. Here is where the Badgers now rank, both nationally and in the 18-team Big Ten:

KenPom: No. 14 overall (up from No. 21) and No. 3 in the Big Ten, with the No. 7 offense and No. 50 defense in the country.
ESPN BPI: No. 22 overall (up three spots) and No. 5 in the Big Ten, with a projected record of 22.6 – 8.4 and a 10.5% chance to win the Big Ten.

The Badgers’ most notable jump is on the defensive side of the court. Top-end offensive efficiency has defined the team’s season to date. A return to the program’s classic defensive dominance is what was needed for the team to reach contention. Its standing in KenPom reflects that improvement, as Wisconsin is up more than 30 spots in defensive efficiency compared to where it stood earlier in the season. That boosted the team’s overall ranking up to No. 14, just six spots behind Purdue (No. 8 overall, No. 1 Big Ten).

Wisconsin is back on the court on Wednesday on the road at Maryland (KenPom No. 21). Another signature victory could send the Badgers closer to KenPom’s top 10 and, more importantly, closer to the top of the Big Ten standings.

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A former Wisconsin Badger will return to the Kohl Center on Sunday

The Wisconsin Badgers (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten) are back home after a California road trip. They return to the Kohl Center court on Sunday afternoon against a struggling Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6 Big Ten) team.

A top storyline entering the game is Wisconsin’s quest for a bounce-back performance after its seven-game winning streak came to an end at UCLA. Another is a homecoming: Sunday will be Nebraska shooting guard Connor Essegian’s first game against his former program.

Essegian transferred to the Cornhuskers last offseason after two years with the Badgers. He originally joined the program as a three-star recruit in the class of 2022.

The Albion, Indiana native excelled as a freshman at Wisconsin, playing an average of 27.4 minutes per game and tallying 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds on 40.4% shooting and 35.9% from three. His role diminished as a sophomore in 2023-24, however, as Greg Gard reworked his rotation around transfer guard A.J. Storr and emerging freshman John Blackwell. Those per-game totals dropped to just 7.3 minutes, 3.2 points and 0.8 rebounds on 38.5% shooting and 30% from three.

Essegian entered the transfer portal after the 2023-24 season concluded. He then committed to a Nebraska program with a clear path to playing time and further development, variables that have each proven true. The sharpshooter is currently averaging 22.8 minutes, 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 43.1% shooting and 41.5% from three through 19 games. That point total is good for third-most on the team.

Big for Connor Essegian @HuskerMBB #B1GMBBall on BTN pic.twitter.com/LW8aMbnCe9

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) January 23, 2025

Wisconsin’s guard rotation excelled since Essegian’s departure. Max Klesmit, Blackwell, John Tonje and Kamari McGee have all been significant driving forces behind the team’s strong start to the season.

Essegian and Chucky Hepburn (Louisville), meanwhile, have each found undeniable success at their new destinations. A.J. Storr, now at Kansas, is still working to establish a consistent role.

Keeping Essegian in check will be key to Wisconsin’s chances at a victory on Sunday. Nebraska started the season 7-0 when he eclipsed 10 points. That streak recently ended, as the Cornhuskers have now lost five straight games despite the sharpshooter scoring in double figures in three of them.

Gard touched on Essegian’s game when meeting with the media on Friday, including what Wisconsin must do to keep him in check.

“He’s got a quick trigger, ball comes off the hand just like it did when he was here,” Gard said. “He’s a recipient of Brice Williams and Juwan Gary, of those guys playing with the ball in their hands and finding him. You have to pay attention to him, can’t lose him. He moves well without the ball. [I’ve seen] a lot of the same things that we saw here.”

My guy @_Johnblackwell1 Let’s battle on Sunday https://t.co/EWiKZtf9Js

— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) January 24, 2025

Wisconsin and Nebraska will tip off at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT. There’s a good chance that Essegian’s three-point shooting, or lack thereof, defines the game’s final result.

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What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said about Nebraska matchup, Connor Essegian’s return

Wisconsin basketball (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten) returns to the Kohl Center court on Sunday afternoon for a matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6 Big Ten).

The Badgers enter the contest after splitting a two-game West Coast road trip with a win over the USC Trojans and a narrow loss to UCLA. The team is still 7-1 in its last eight games and in a strong position to contend for a Big Ten crown.

Nebraska, meanwhile, enters on a five-game losing streak. The team’s 12-2 start has quickly turned in the wrong direction, with consecutive losses to Iowa, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland and USC. The Badgers will enter as a clear favorite, expected to extend that streak to six games.

One key for Wisconsin to achieve that result is slowing down Cornhuskers guard and former Badger Connor Essegian.

The sharpshooter is averaging 11.5 points per game for Nebraska this season after transferring in from Wisconsin after the 2023-24 campaign. He took little time before becoming one of the team’s top offensive options, albeit off the bench.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard discussed the matchup against Essegian when meeting with the media on Friday, specifically what he’s seen from the former Badger at his new destination:

“Yea, I think running around and shooting threes. They run some stuff for him. Some of the same things we ran for him, that I’ve seen so far,” Gard began. “So yea, he’ll let them fly in transition. I think he started early in the year and now they bring him off the bench. He’s got a quick trigger, ball comes off the hand just like it did when he was here.”

Essegian has scored in double-figures in three of his last four games. His latest performance was an efficient 15 points on five-of-eight shooting and three-of-six from three in the Cornhuskers’ narrow loss to USC.

Gard was clear that Essegian can’t be a player that Wisconsin loses in the mix defensively.

“He’s a recipient of Brice Williams and Juwan Gary, of those guys playing with the ball in their hands and finding him,” Gard continued. “You have to pay attention to him, can’t lose him. Moves well without the ball, so a lot of the same things that we saw here.”

Essegian’s year-long numbers (22.8 minutes, 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 43.1% shooting and 41.5% from three) resemble those from his freshman season with the Badgers in 2022-23 (27.4 minutes, 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 40.4% shooting and 35.9% from three). While his team has struggled in conference play, he’s established himself one of the its top offensive options (one of three averaging double-digit points).

Wisconsin allows its opponents to shoot 31% from three, 75th-best in the country. Its work against Essegian will be key to whether the team can return to the win column and extend Nebraska’s losing streak.

Tip between the Badgers and Cornhuskers is set for 1 p.m. ET, noon CT. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.

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Eric Musselman’s comments on road games ring strong after Nebraska win

Eric Musselman is succeeding in getting his team to compete in hostile Big Ten environments.

On Wednesday night, USC men’s basketball took down Nebraska on the road. With the victory, the Trojans and Eric Musselman improved to 12-7 on the season and 4-4 in Big Ten play.

USC is also 3-1 on the road in conference play—an impressive accomplishment given the significant travel that comes with playing in the conference. Last week, head coach Eric Musselman discussed the challenges of playing on the road in the Big Ten.

“It’s not tripping up our women’s team, right?” Musselman said. “They’re super talented, they’re well-coached, and they’re going out and kicking butt when they have to travel.

“Eventually, we’ve got to get to that point. Men’s game, you’re not going to win by 30 on the road all the time. But we have to figure out how to go on the road, like we are, and compete.”

USC will be back at home next week to take on crosstown rival UCLA and Michigan State. The Trojans will then hit the road again the following week to visit Northwestern and Purdue.

Update on Wisconsin transfer Connor Essegian in first season at Nebraska

Former Wisconsin transfer guard Connor Essegian has settled into a consistent role in his first season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The former Badger averages 23.2 minutes per game for his new program, nearing his 27.4 minutes-per-game clip as a freshman with the Badgers in 2022-23. He’s averaging 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in that time on 42.3% shooting and 39.6% from 3.

Nebraska is 12-4 (2-3 Big Ten) and is 10th in our latest Big Ten basketball power rankings. The team started 12-2, 2-1 before losses to Iowa (97-87) and Purdue (104-68).

Essegian is one of the team’s leaders off the bench, consistently landing sixth on the team in minutes. His shooting has cooled after a hot start to the season, however. The sharpshooter began the campaign with a record-breaking stretch against South Dakota and North Florida, averaging 25.5 points, three rebounds and 3.5 assists on 56% shooting and 52% from 3.

He has topped 20 points in just one game since: a Dec. 30 win over Southern. His last three games have included a total of 25 points (8.33 per game), 12 rebounds (four per game) and eight assists (2.66 per game) on 30% shooting and 22% from three. Nebraska is 1-2 in those games, defeating UCLA before the two losses.

Essegian’s season numbers still compare favorably to his impressive freshman campaign. He’s averaging 0.1 fewer points, 0.8 fewer rebounds and 0.4 more assists, while shooting nearly two percentage points better from the field and four percent better from 3.

It’s easy to say his transfer has worked out in that regard. That is especially the case given he has found a consistent role after playing only seven minutes per game for the Badgers in 2023-24.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, continues to excel after the offseason departures of Essegian, Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr. The Badgers are 14-3 on the season (4-2 Big Ten) after a recent win over Ohio State. The team is averaging 82.4 points per game, up nearly eight points from its 2023-24 rate. The team’s impressive backcourt depth is partially to thank for that impressive play. John Blackwell, Kamari McGee and transfer John Tonje are all amid career seasons, with veteran starter Max Klesmit and ascending role player Jack Janicki also playing big parts in the winning.

Essegian would have likely struggled to reclaim minutes on a new-look Wisconsin team that is loaded at his position.

Wisconsin will face Essegian and the Cornhuskers on Sunday, Jan. 26, in Madison. The Badgers will be looking to avenge the backbreaking overtime loss they suffered against the Cornhuskers last February — a loss that began a longer stretch during which the team lost seven of nine.

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Wisconsin football handed Nebraska its best season in nine years

Without Wisconsin’s help, Nebraska wouldn’t have its best season in a decade

Wisconsin football fans have likely moved on from what was a disastrous 2024 campaign.

Wisconsin finished the season at 5-7, went 0-3 in trophy games and missed a bowl game for the first time since 2001. All things considered, it was the program’s worst season since that 2001 campaign.

That final mark feels even worse considering the Badgers sat at 5-2 entering a late-October home matchup against Penn State. What followed: five consecutive losses, including to rivals Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota by a combined score of 110-42. The team’s form regressed significantly as the season concluded.

The result of one notable bowl game adds a bit of insult to that discussed injury.

Nebraska defeated Boston College 20-15 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday. The victory closed a 7-6 season for the Cornhuskers. It is their first winning season since 2016 and first bowl win since 2015.

Without Wisconsin, that result would not have been possible.

Nebraska started the season 5-1 with strong wins over Colorado, Purdue and Rutgers. It then went on a substantial slide, losing to Indiana 56-7, Ohio State 21-17, UCLA 27-20 and USC 28-20. The team sat at 5-5 entering its Week 13 matchup against Wisconsin, facing yet another late-season collapse with bowl eligibility at stake.

Wisconsin was also 5-5 entering the matchup after consecutive losses to Penn State, Iowa and Oregon. The game was season-defining for both teams, regardless of the outcome.

Nebraska dominated Wisconsin that afternoon, winning 44-25. It was the Cornhuskers’ first win over the Badgers since 2012 and first with the Freedom Trophy at stake. There are further stats that emphasize the historic nature of the result. Most notably, it clinched Nebraska’s first bowl appearance in nine seasons — its fans celebrated as such.

Matt Rhule’s team went on to lose to Iowa the following week to finish the regular season at 6-6. Wisconsin became the team’s only win from Oct. 5 on. Now that the Cornhuskers have since clinched a winning record with a bowl victory, ending a near-decade-long drought, it’s hard to ignore Wisconsin’s role in allowing that to happen.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell and Rhule will inevitably be compared as each continues their respective tenures. Each were high-profile hires entering the 2023 season, brought in to reverse each program’s current course. Both coaches are now an identical 12-13 through two years — each with a 7-6 and a 5-7 season, in reversed order.

Rhule currently has the slight upper hand over Fickell given Nebraska’s bowl win and final record. If the two teams’ trajectories continue on divergent paths, as currently appears the case, it will be challenging to ignore that Week 13 result as a major turning point.

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Chiefs assistant coach reportedly leaving staff for college football job

Kansas City #Chiefs assistant coach Terry Bradden reportedly leaving staff for college football job | @EdEastonJr

The postseason is only a few weeks away, and the Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. After this journey, they will likely lose a member of their coaching staff on defense.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to hire Chiefs assistant defensive line coach Terry Bradden as the school’s new defensive line coach. Bradden has been with Kansas City for eight seasons, the last four of which were as an assistant under defensive line coach Joe Cullen. The move would be for the next college football season, as Bradden is expected to stay on for Kansas City’s postseason run.

Bradden has contributed to Kansas City’s defensive growth during his tenure, working with different groups before settling in with the defensive line. The unit has become a top group in the league after humble beginnings and struggles in the late 2010s. He was a trusted member of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s staff, which has helped develop standouts such as Chris Jones, Mike Danna, Tershawn Wharton, and George Karlaftis, to name a few.

Bradden will join Nebraska’s staff, led by head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule recently served as head coach of the Carolina Panthers from 2020 to 2022. Nebraska will take on Boston College at Yankee Stadium in New York for this year’s Pinstripe Bowl.

Former Wisconsin transfer guard goes off for career high in Nebraska blowout win

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian had a career outing in Nebraska‘s 96-79 win over South Dakota on Wednesday.

The former Badger transfer went off for 29 points, five assists and two rebounds on 10-of-22 shooting and 6-of-15 from 3. The 29 points best his previous career high of 24 points during Wisconsin’s overtime loss to Michigan on Feb. 26, 2023.

The game marked a further increase in minutes and usage for the junior guard. His 33 minutes off the bench were the most of any game this season, and the most for any Nebraska player in the win — even starters.

Essegian’s big outing pushes his season averages to 21.5 minutes per game, 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 44.4% shooting and 37.8% from three.

Connor Essegian was hoopin’. pic.twitter.com/gaxBRfCK1x

— Blackshirts (@blvckshirts) November 28, 2024

Essegian is one of many former Badgers having strong seasons elsewhere. A.J. Storr and Chucky Hepburn are having big impacts at Kansas and Louisville, respectively.

Of all of Wisconsin’s offseason departures, Essegian’s made the most sense. His playing time plummeted from his freshman to sophomore season at Wisconsin, dropping from 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game to 7.3 and 3.2, respectively. He has found a sizable role for a strong Nebraska group. His playing time and usage is back to the level from that breakout freshman campaign.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is off to a program-best 8-0 start. Greg Gard boasts a deep backcourt rotation of Max Klesmit, John Tonje, John Blackwell, Kamari McGee and Jack Janicki. It has not even incorporated top freshman Daniel Freitag and transfer Camren Hunter.

Essegian would likely still have been lost in a crowded rotation with the Badgers. His playing time and production with the Cornhuskers ensures all parties are finding success in this case — an uncommon reality in today’s age of player movement.

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Postgame encounter between Wisconsin head football coach, Nebraska assistant goes viral

Postgame encounter between Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, Nebraska assistant Donovan Raiola goes viral

The book isn’t entirely shut on Wisconsin’s loss to Nebraska.

In the aftermath of the game and the subsequent postgame reaction, a video went viral showing an exchange between Badgers coach Luke Fickell and Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola as Fickell was leaving the field.

Fickell is seen walking off with a Wisconsin assistant coach and several police officers — as Nebraska fans stormed the field to celebrate the program’s first bowl appearance since 2016 and first win over Wisconsin in 12 years.

Wisconsin’s coach said something to Raiola, who was walking in the opposite direction. Raiola flashed a thumbs-up and appears to respond before a police officer accompanying Fickell quickly runs over to confront the Nebraska assistant.

That is the extent of the interaction between the two. The video quickly went viral on X, amassing more than 2.7 million views:

Appears former #Badgers center and current OL coach Donovan Raiola had some words for Luke Fickell and/or Casey Rabach yesterday.

Based on his time at Wisconsin, saying something is absolutely on brand for Raiola. Was always talking. pic.twitter.com/0COpLvDCOi

— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) November 25, 2024

For further context, Raiola was a decorated offensive lineman for the Wisconsin Badgers during the early 2000s. He has been on the Nebraska coaching staff since 2022, including the last two years under new coach Matt Rhule. On an unrelated note, he’s the uncle of Cornhuskers star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.

No information has been released on what was said between the two or what prompted the reaction from the police officer accompanying Fickell. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule called the interaction “no big deal” when meeting with the media on Monday.

Now, Wisconsin’s singular focus is on its season-ending Week 14 matchup against Minnesota. Fickell and the Badgers need a victory to avoid failing to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2001.

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Wisconsin football plummets in ESPN FPI and SP+ after loss to Nebraska

Wisconsin’s season continued to dive in the wrong direction on Saturday, the latest result a 44-25 loss to rival Nebraska.

The Badgers are now 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play. They stood at 5-2 and 3-1, respectively, just four weeks ago. What followed was a home loss to Penn State, a blowout loss to Iowa, a narrow defeat to top-ranked Oregon and Saturday’s historic loss to Nebraska. That four-game stretch has changed the 2024 season, and is beginning to change the overall sentiment surrounding Luke Fickell and the program.

Part of that sentiment is seen in ESPN FPI and SP+’s latest updates.

Wisconsin entered the Nebraska game ranked No. 34 in FPI. The loss dropped the team down to No. 41. FPI now projects the Badgers’ final record at 5.5 – 6.5 and gives it just a 51% chance to defeat Minnesota in Week 14 and make a bowl game.

SP+ is even less confident in the team’s quality. The Nebraska loss dropped Wisconsin from No. 50 to No. 59 in the metric. It is now ranked as the No. 13 team in the Big Ten, ahead of only Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern and Purdue.

Having a coin-flip Week 14 game to reach bowl eligibility and being ranked in the class of Rutgers and Maryland is far below the program’s typical standard. It’s also far below the expectation set by both Chris McIntosh and Luke Fickell when the latter was hired in 2022.

A win over Minnesota to extend the program’s bowl streak to 23 games would be an important step in the right direction. Otherwise, the program’s rapid fall from national relevance will only continue.

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