Wisconsin Basketball: Former Badgers Starter Enters Transfer Portal

Wisconsin basketball wasted no time getting the off-season fireworks off the ground. Less than 48 hours after the Badgers season ended in a loss to the James Madison Dukes, a key piece of the Wisconsin Badgers roster is headed to the transfer portal. In the age of NIL, freedom of movement, and player empowerment, a surprise move was bound to happen. The first domino has fallen, and head coach Greg Gard has a new roster hole to fill.

Wisconsin Basketball Guard Enters Transfer Portal

Mar 7, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Connor Essegian (3) and the Wisconsin Badgers bench react to a dunk scored by Wisconsin Badgers guard AJ Storr (2) during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this month, Connor Essegian told BadgerBlitz that he “has no interest in putting his name in the transfer portal, saying his loyalty to the Badgers’ program outweighs anything else he might find on the open market and that he’ll return next season.” Despite Essegian’s previous remarks, Joe Tipton of On3 reported Sunday that the shooting guard is going portaling.

Badger Nation thank you❤️ pic.twitter.com/0xRycl0b67

— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) March 25, 2024

After setting the record for three-pointers made by a freshman Badger, Essegian struggled to find his place in Gard’s rotation his sophomore season. The Indiana native shot only 30.3% from beyond the arc this season after shooting 35.9% from deep a year prior. After sustaining a back injury in Wisconsin’s season-opener, the 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman team honoree never found his footing. He received no playing time in UW’s final three games of the 2023-24 campaign.

Why is Wisconsin Badger Connor Essegian Transferring?

Oct 10, 2023; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, and Connor Essegian speak to the media during the Big Ten basketball media days at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

After his early injury woes, Gard heavily scrutinized Essegian’s play. Comments about Essegian’s defensive play sparked endless debate. Despite the former Indiana Mr. Basketball finalist’s insistence that he would remain in Madison, some of this felt inevitable.

Roster additions minimized Essegian’s ability to crack Gard’s rotation. AJ Storr transferring from St. John’s to Wisconsin immediately bumped Essegian from his starting role to the bench. Storr’s presence could have been a benefit to Essegian. By bringing in a new dynamic scorer, the former three-star recruit could have taken advantage of the attention being shifted away from him on the perimeter. In the time that it took Essegian to recover from his injury, however, Wisconsin basketball freshman John Blackwell carved out a role for himself as a do-it-all piece in the backcourt.

Blackwell’s ascendence to starting in place of an injured Chucky Hepburn was not all that Essegian was pushing up against, though. Looking ahead to next season, the Badgers backcourt might get more crowded still. Four-start standout point guard recruit Daniel Freitag will join Wisconsin in just a few months. Add any other piece that Gard might bring from the transfer portal, and Essegian’s opportunities for minutes look slim.

Wisconsin Basketball Transfer Portal News

Before his team left Madison for the NCAA Tournament, Gard told reporters, “We’re in contact with people because you have to be,” when asked about his staff’s approach to the portal opening before the season ended. “You have to stay ahead of it regardless of what your needs are or will be because it’s an ever-changing world.” Since then, BadgerNotes has learned of several players that Wisconsin basketball has contacted in the portal.

The possibility of current Badgers entering the portal was always present. Gard said he had not discussed any players’ transfer portal plans because their season had not yet ended. He did add that, “If any of them would come to me, I would talk to them about it, but their focus needs to be on the task at hand right now.”

Wisconsin Basketball and the Curious Case of Connor Essegian

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