Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFCVgGrjeNM
Former Wisconsin sophomore guard Connor Essegian is the latest addition to the 2024-25 Huskers team. Essegian is the fourth transfer to Nebraska this offseason, leaving the Huskers with just three definite scholarships to fill out for next year's roster.
Essegian is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard who will be looking to rebound from his tough sophomore slump last season where he averaged 3.2 points on 38.5% from the field and 30.3% from beyond the arc in just 7.3 minutes per game.
Here’s what fans can expect from Nebraska’s latest backcourt addition:
Shooting
Essegian’s biggest strength comes from his ability to shoot and stretch the floor for his teammates. Despite his 30.3% shooting from deep last season he still shot 90.9% from the free-throw line, which is a sign of an elite shooter.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg and the Husker faithful will be looking to get something close to the freshman version of Essegian who averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds at a 40.4% clip from the field and 35.9% from distance.
In his two years at Wisconsin, Essegian displayed the ability to catch and shoot as well as the ability to shoot on the move off of screens and handoffs.
Even when he wasn’t shooting the best, the Badgers believed in his shot and elected to use run plays for him to get open shots off of down screens and double screens. Fans can expect him to fit right in, as Nebraska often used similar actions last year for their shooters.
Finishing
While Essegian shot waivered last season he found success driving to the rim even on a limited amount of attempts. Essegian shot 69% at the rim last season, a number one would normally expect to see from a big man who’s six to seven inches taller than him.
While he definitely showed flashes of being a good finisher, his percentage at the rim may be a bit misleading as he only shot 15% of his just under three shots a game at the rim. While the sample size is too small to go off of, fans should expect Essegian to be more than just a shooter, as he has shown he can occasionally put the ball on the ground and finish at the rim.
Weaknesses
While Essegian was a good shooter at Wisconsin, he never really showed an ability to create for others in his time in Madison. While he did improve slightly last season from 0.2 to 0.7 assists a game, there is still much to be desired in this area.
Hoiberg traditionally doesn’t demand a ton of playmaking prowess from his guards. The offense the Huskers ran last season did get bogged down at times when the ball didn’t move, especially on the road. Essegian won’t be required to become a pure point guard by any means; however, he will need to keep the ball moving and get his shots within the flow of the offense if he wants to stay on the floor next season.
Best games
If fans want to see Essegian do what he does best ahead of next season, they can look back at his 12 points in 12 minutes on four made threes against the Huskers last season. They can also go watch his 15-point performance against Rutgers, where he made three 3-pointers last season.
Overall, fans might be better served turning to his freshman year highlights to see Essegian display what he is really capable of.
While many fans may have raised an eyebrow or two when first seeing Essegian’s stats from last season, they can expect a better year from the 6-foot-4 sharpshooting guard at Nebraska. The offense the Huskers run is tailor-made for shooters, and as long as he doesn’t become a liability, he should have plenty of opportunities for success in Lincoln. Fans may not be able to count on him returning to freshman form; however, they should expect something closer to his first year than his last.
More on Essegian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POuXCbLl1aM