This was not at all how the Nebraska basketball season was supposed to go for Connor Essegian. The 3-point ace started out the year struggling from deep and losing playing time to guys like freshman Braden Frager. Now it turns out he'll miss the rest of the season due to an injury he suffered against Winthrop on Tuesday night.
Essegian confirmed the injury himself on social media Saturday morning, and the Huskers followed up with an announcement that he'll miss the next two to three months.
"I feel awful for Connor because of all the work he puts in and things he provides our team both on and off the court," Nebraska basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg said in a release. "With an injury like this, we don't want to rush Connor back without him being 100 percent, so we have made the decision to shut him down for the rest of the season, and he will apply for a medical hardship."
God’s plan. See you soon Husker Nation🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/iBUZjdGLtZ
— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) November 29, 2025
Nebraska basketball to be without Connor Essegian for rest of the 2025-26 season
"While he won’t be playing, Connor will find ways to lead and help our program. I am confident that Connor will make the most of this setback and come back stronger from it."
Essegian left the Winthrop game midway through the second half, and tests following the game revealed a significant right ankle injury. According to Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer Andrew McCabe, the recovery time for an injury as substantial as Essegian's is several months.
The Nebraska basketball team will have to figure out quickly what its rotation will look like without Connor Essegian, as it plays a game against SC Upstate on Saturday afternoon.