The Wisconsin basketball program’s depth took a hit when sophomore guard Connor Essegian entered the transfer portal. Now, the Badgers staff hopes they won’t have to play against him this upcoming season.
Since Essegian went portaling, the former Badgers’ wing has been linked to multiple Big Ten schools, such as Michigan, Indiana, and Maryland, which he recently visited. His latest visit was with a rising SEC program led by a former Wisconsin basketball assistant and reigning league Coach of the Year, Lamont Paris.
The 6-foot-4 guard announced his visit to South Carolina on social media Sunday afternoon.
Essegian made a significant impact on the Wisconsin basketball team as a freshman, averaging 11.7 points per game and connecting on 35.9% of his three-point attempts. However, his role was greatly diminished this past season, with his playing time dropping from 27.4 to 7.3 minutes per game.
During the 2023-24 season, Essegian posted averages of 3.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game. His shooting efficiency also dipped, and he struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 30.3% of his attempts.
Wisconsin basketball is set to return the majority of its backcourt production next season while also adding four-star point guard Daniel Freitag into the mix, making a path to playing time unclear for Essegian.
Moving on from the Badgers was the best decision possible for Essegian, who is looking to find a new home where he’ll get an expanded role. Perhaps South Carolina, which went 26-8 under Paris last season and lost both of its starting backcourt players, is a place that reality could come to fruition.
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