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.
Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss
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.
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.”
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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