Nebraska Basketball: Why Connor Essegian is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

While success may not have come until Fred Hoiberg’s fifth season at Nebraska, last year was certainly a prominent season, as the Cornhuskers claimed 3rd place in the Big Ten and returned to the NCAA Tournament. Nebraska danced for the first time in a decade and proved they belonged in what was a bizarre year of basketball in the Big Ten. Things change quickly in this sport, but have the Cornhuskers done enough to put themselves back in that position again?

Losing star shooter Keisei Tominaga means this year’s squad will certainly have a different feel, though getting both Juwan Gary and Brice Williams back was excellent news. Those two double-digit scorers remain leaders for the Cornhuskers and are the most prominent returners. Unfortunately, Nebraska won’t have Rienk Mast, who’ll miss the season due to injury, and found themselves with a few other holes to fill in the offseason.

It was a long list of Transfer Portal additions, including a pair of power forwards in Berke Buyuktuncel, a Turkish prospect who did little at UCLA last season, and Andrew Morgan from North Dakota State. Other depths adds in the frontcourt include center Braxton Meah from Washington and Gavin Griffiths, an underclassman from Rutgers. Nebraska should expect decent production from Rollie Worster, a former Utah shooting guard who should play significant minutes for the Cornhuskers.

Many might choose Worster as the best addition for Nebraska, but instead our eyes are on Connor Essegian. A 6’4 guard originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Essegian made quite the impression as a freshman at Wisconsin, averaging 11.7 points per game while earning All-Freshman honors in the Big Ten. Last season was a different story, as he assumed a significantly smaller role and barely factored in for the Badgers, scoring just 3.2 points a game.

There were a number of factors for Essegian’s decline last season, including injury and other depth on Wisconsin’s roster, but Hoiberg and company are expecting his production to look more like his freshman year. Many players take a major step forward as sophomores, and while that didn’t happen for Essegian, the Cornhuskers are hoping that this offseason allows him that growth. He’s a solid long-range shooter and has a great offensive game and has a chance for more significant run in Nebraska’s new-look backcourt.

We’re by no means saying that anyone can take the place of Tominaga on this team, but Essegian has the opportunity to step up in his absence. There’s no telling whether Essegian will struggle with consistency and on defense or if this change of scenery allows him to look like he did as a freshman. Nebraska is banking on him and Worster and a few other new faces to lead a backcourt that will be very important if the Cornhuskers are going to contend in the Big Ten again.

The Cornhuskers don’t need Essegian to be the leading scorer. Still, if he can play solid defense, make the shots that are open, and develop back into a solid all-around threat, he could be one of the best offseason additions in the Big Ten. Does Nebraska have enough talent to return to the Big Dance? Will Essegian be that driving force in the backcourt or is another disappointing season in his future?