
iStockphoto / © Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Nebraska point guard Sam Hoiberg exited his most recent basketball contest unexpectedly shortly after the game tipped off. He later returned to lead the Cornhuskers to a 35-point win.
Teammate Connor Essegian provided an update on social media after the fact. He says a bathroom emergency was to blame.
— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) January 14, 2026
The Cornhuskers faced Big Ten rival Oregon on Tuesday night in Lincoln. They’d make light work of the Ducks to earn a conference victory.
Nebraska used a strong first half to build an early 12-point lead. They’d put Oregon away after the break.
Hoiberg was not on the floor for the start of matchup. He mysteriously exited the floor about two minutes into the game. That brief absence has possibly been explained.
Did Sam Hoiberg poop his pants at Nebraska basketball game?
Teammate Connor Essegian would lead you to believe he did. The senior guard responded to reports of Hoiberg’s exit with a poop-shaped emoji online.
I asked for Sam for permission before posting this guys🤣 https://t.co/lBlByuOCeF
— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) January 14, 2026
Hoiberg’s absence would be short-lived. He returned to the court to log 32 minutes of action.
In that time, he was extremely efficient. The point guard finished the game with a team-high five assists, six steals, no turnovers, and 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Nebraska won the basketball game, 90-55. In doing so, the eighth-ranked Cornhuskers improved to 17-0 on the season.
Connor Essegian put his teammate on blast.
Though, Sam Hoiberg has yet to confirm the accusation online. We may never get the full story. For now, Essegian’s word is all we have to go on.
It’s not the first time the veteran hooper has provided inside intel surrounding the team. The guard is also a popular YouTube vlogger with more than 12k subscribers.
Most of his content is centered around life as a D1 athlete.
Essegian is in his fourth college season, the first two of which he spent at Wisconsin. In Madison, he earned All-Conference honors as a freshman by scoring 11.7 points per game.
Production and playing time dipped as a sophomore. He transferred to Nebraska ahead of his junior year.
Last season, he again averaged double figure scoring totals with a notable role off the bench. His senior season, unfortunately, has been cut short.
Essegian appeared in the team’s first seven games before suffering his setback. Despite the injury, he remains locked in when it comes to Nebraska basketball.
He may have a future breaking news given his most recent report on Sam Hoiberg. It will be fun to continue watching the Cornhuskers’ surprise season through Essegian’s social media outlets.