Wisconsin Basketball Program Suffers Significant Blow Amid Fan Backlash

Connor Essegian's time in Madison is over.

The Wisconsin Badgers were bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by JMU in humiliating fashion, and fans are in open revolt against coach Greg Gard and the state of the program.

The team's last Sweet 16 appearance came in 2017. A program that once only knew winning now struggles to remain relevant among the country's best.

Well, when it rains it pours because the once-promising guard is leaving the team.

Connor Essegian announces he's transferring.

Essegian blew up on the scene out of nowhere last season and was one of the best young guards in the Big Ten. However, he fell out of favor this season, and his production dropped off a cliff.

Now, he's leaving the Badgers. He took to X Sunday night to announce his decision to leave the Badgers after two seasons with the program.

You can read his announcement below, and hit me with your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Now, would a guy averaging just 3.2 points per game transferring usually be a big deal? No, but Essegian represents what many feels is gross roster mismanagement by Greg Gard.

Essegian started 19 games last season, averaged 11.7 points per game, shot 35.9% from three and was one of the best freshmen in the country. This season, he started no games, averaged just 3.2 points per game and he spent most of his time watching from the bench.

It looked like Connor Essegian was destined to be Wisconsin's next great guard. However, he regressed in a way that is honestly hard to understand, and fair or not, the criticism falls on Gard.

How does a player go from averaging nearly 12 points per game to averaging just north of three and barely playing in year two? It makes no sense.

I doubt Greg Gard will be fired, but Essegian's regression and exit combined with an unreal amount of outrage does not paint a pretty picture of the state of the program.

Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian is leaving the program. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

We'll see if Essegian is the only one to leave or if there's a mass exit. My fear is it's the latter, and that cold spell doom for Greg Gard. Let me know what you think will happen at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.