A three-star recruit, he had nowhere to go. --------------------------------------------------------------, Talk about it inside The Round Table Message Board, Talk about it on the Rutgers Hoops Free Message Board, PHNjcmlwdD4KICAoZnVuY3Rpb24odyxkLHMsbCxpKXsKICAgICAgICBpZiAo He is a ferocious defender on and off the ball. Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports Theres not much to be drawn from beating up on an opponent ranked No. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, across his stomach in bold, black letters. Caleb McConnell (22) Guard - Caleb McConnell is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the only individual award given to a RU player since joining . Dont be surprised of the Blue Devils (0-7) remain on Rutgers schedule going forward. Then Pikiell inserted McConnell into the starting lineup, the Scarlet Knights won five of their next six games and eventually squeaked into the tournament, ending a 30-year drought. His father, a former college athlete and a decent playground hoops player in his own right, often joined his son and rarely went easy on him. The Scarlet Knights will have to work to earn a bid to the tournament. Credit Solution Experts Incorporated offers quality business credit building services, which includes an easy step-by-step system designed for helping clients build their business credit effortlessly. Even though McConnell broke his foot just before Pikiell was scheduled to fly out and watch him play, Pikiell made the trip to Ohio anyway. As expected, rusty. Odds & lines subject to change. His movement looked fine, although he seemed a gear short of his typical explosion. With latest Big Ten loss, Rutgers basketball continues KenPom slide, Elijah King, a three-star edge, opens up on Rutgers football offer and his spring visit to Ohio State, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust. In a vintage sequence, he tracked down a loose ball under Central Connecticuts hoop and fed an Omoruyi dunk with a behind-the-back pass. dy5fZGlkQXN5bmNJbmplY3RHb29nbGVUYWdNYW5hZ2VyID0gdHJ1ZTsKICAg McConnell, teary-eyed and frustrated when he lost, often talked about quitting, but his dad would not let him. His cousins story was similar to thousands across the country a good kid, McConnell believed, who got caught in a bad situation and was paying the price for it and he was about to see him for the first time in four years. Hes just tough. "And as a competitor, Ive got to rise to the occasion.. Battles game-winning shot capped a 15-4 run in the final 1:15 for Minnesotas only lead of the game. 16 Ohio State (four), No. Season-saving. Right now its there for some stability.. Please check your email for a confirmation. He adjusted the brace a few times, short-ironed a couple of shots, but did a lot of the dirty-work as usual deflecting balls, altering shots, setting screens, making the extra pass. He was a dogged worker, the rare player Briski had to ask to spend less time in the gym. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust. McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. The Rutgers guard is averaging a career-high 2.4 steals a game. Starter at guard in 21 of 31 games played, averaging 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds with 25 steals, Shot 41.1 percent from the field and team-best 79.2 percent from the free throw line, Against Big Ten competition, averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds with 13 steals while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line, Scored in double-figures 10 times, leading team in scoring four times, Scored season-high 20 points on 8-8 shooting with a career-high five assists in win at Nebraska (Jan. 3), Had first career double-double with 10 points and career-high 12 rebounds in win over Minnesota (Jan. 19). Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. Ive got to yank him out of the gym. The kid just was relentless, he recalled. aWQ9J2RzX2RlZmF1bHRfYW5jaG9yJz48L2Rpdj4KPC9kaXY+CjwvZGl2PgoK, Certain Data by Sportradar and Stats Perform, PCEtLSBCZWdpbiBjb21TY29yZSBUYWcgLS0+Cgo8c2NyaXB0PgogIHZhciBf McConnell logged more than 10 points during each of his last three games started. The Hurricanes, who made the NCAA Tournaments Elite Eight last season, are 5-1 thus far with a Kenpom ranking of 50 (Rutgers is 34). https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2022/03/02/caleb-mcconnell-is-a-semifinalist-for-naismith-mens-defensive-player-of-the-year/, Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm Rutgers doesnt need him to produce a ton of points at the Big Ten level, but its important that he keeps defenses honest with the threat of scoring. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Feb 20, 2023. Y29tc2NvcmUgPSBfY29tc2NvcmUgfHwgW107CiAgX2NvbXNjb3JlLnB1c2go All rights reserved (About Us). McConnell announced the decision to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft on March 28th with a post on Instagram that read as follows: These last four years were amazing! Was perfect 12-12 at free throw line against Purdue (Jan. 28), tied for most ever by a RU player in a Big Ten game. RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. When McConnell got to college, his dad finally confessed. I love the fact that I can play him at almost any position while our younger guys are figuring out one position. MINNEAPOLIS (AP)Jamison Battle hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and finished with 20 points as Minnesota beat Rutgers 75-74 on Thursday night to snap a 12-game losing streak. I really fell in love with the game, with competing and learning new stuff, McConnell said. And just like that, it became McConnells mantra, too, something he repeated over and over to himself in tough moments on and off the court. The Scarlet Knights will look to earn as many automatic qualifier spots to the NCAA Tournament that they can this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. After being spurned by just about every Big Ten school, McConnell is now a key member of Rutgers basketball renaissance who, with eight games remaining in his senior season, is a top candidate for the conferences Defender of the Year award. Today, the word is tattooed across his stomach in bold, black letters. Rutgers led 70-60 before Garcia scored the next four points and Battle hit consecutives 3s to pull the Golden Gophers to 73-70 with 22 seconds left, and Jaden Henley's putback cut the deficit to 73-72. dmFyIHMgPSBkb2N1bWVudC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KCJzY3JpcHQiKSwgZWwg Simply put, it changed the game. 0:49. UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Between them, Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy have played 208 games for Rutgers basketball. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. The 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best players in the conference is back. MARCH. He battled through countless injuries and college coaches who doubted him a skinny high school player many believed was too soft for high-major hoops. to be the Big Tens defensive player of the year. The McConnell boys split their time between them, attending school in Florida, with summers in Ohio. bS9jcy5qcyI7CiAgICBlbC5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShzLCBl 16 Buckeyes, Played in 20 games (eight starts), averaging 5.7 points and career-best 4.3 rebounds with career-high 29 steals, Did not make season debut until Jan. 2 against No. INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL'S FRIDAY. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. Hell go down as one of the great winners that weve had here, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. McConnell will give it everything he has, carried by the unbreakable mindset that got him here, sharing all the fruits of his labor with those who backed him up along the way. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. Caleb McConnell began playing basketball around eight years old, and his passion for the game has led him to plenty of success. Im so grateful to have been blessed with this group of teammates. Made season debut versus CCSUafter missing the five games due to injury (knee), Excelled at Miami with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists in 35 minutes, Posted 16 points, 10 rebounds for double-double in win over No. Gambling problem? His level of compete was one of the highest Ive ever seen at that age. Rutgers mens basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. 11.3K followers. Mulcahy remains sidelined indefinitely by left shoulder injury; Pikiell said he's been cleared to practice but not for contact. He was finally healthy heading into his junior season, but a month and a half before he was scheduled to return to school, a freak accident in a pickup game left him with two slipped disks in his back. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? McConnell would bring veteran leadership back to the team and he was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season. From the moment McConnell dribbled a ball at a local YMCA, he was hooked. That label of this soft, skinny kid, I think it pissed him off, quite frankly.. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. 1,244 following. McConnell's has a decorated resume through 60 career starts . He has been more involved offensively and is taking advantage of his opportunities. Follow. Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. That roar became an eruption a minute later, when McConnell converted his first touch into a bucket an eight-foot running floater from the baseline. Big Ten and Big East programs that once had shown interest hesitated to take him. McConnell made the heroic play with four fouls and put himself on the line physically as well to make the game saving block. There would be no more fitting award for Caleb McConnell than Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten., Pretty damn close to every Big Ten school called about him or came to see him, and no one pulled the trigger. He is averaging 6.5 points per game, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds. The kids fearless, man. There were many big plays, including Geo Bakers clutch drive with the game on the line to draw the foul and knock down the pair of free throws. Rutgers basketball has seen a slide in the latest analytics updates from KenPom. Caleb McConnell is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the only individual award given to a RU player since joining the conference in 2014. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve his game. What a spark for @RutgersMBB! Assisted by Caleb McConnell. bS9ucy5odG1sP2lkPUdUTS1NRjZQWFhDJmFtcDtndG1fYXV0aD1LaEg2aGVD Rutgers is the last team in the NCAA Tournament? We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Everyone who follows Rutgers basketball knows that, and you could feel the appreciation in the stands Saturday. https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/22/rutgers-caleb-mcconnell-is-having-an-impressive-last-dance/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. McConnell played his entire senior season with a sports hernia and a painful hip injury, and it took a broken foot to get McConnell off of the court for good. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell grimaces after colliding with a Minnesota player during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Minneapolis. As Rutgers looks to make a tournament run, McConnell will be critical. Through 14 games, the Scarlet Knights senior is averaging a career-high 9.9 points and 3.3 assists per game. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . 8/10 Indiana, Earned All-Met Player of the Week (Dec. 6), Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, First Rutgers player to win conference Defensive Player of the Year award since Hamady Ndiaye in 2009-10, Also named Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and to Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Its about me finding the right time and my spots in the game, Miller said. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell reacts during Rutgers' loss to Minnesota on March 2. Pikiell told McConnell to take his time, but McConnells mind was made up: He was coming back to help this team. He woke his dad at 6 a.m. every morning for rides to workouts with a personal trainer. He found a better balance in his schedule, spending less time wearing his body out in the gym and more time studying film of the opposing teams best player. Caleb McConnell was fouled . My Rutgers family helped me grow from a unrefined freshman to the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and I thank you all for that from the bottom of my heart!. X2Nvb2tpZXNfd2luPXgnIHN0eWxlPSdkaXNwbGF5Om5vbmU7dmlzaWJpbGl0 Watching the play several times, it jumps out as symbolic of this season for Rutgers mens basketball. Averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds with 26 steals and 32 assists, Led team in 3-point percentage (35.7%) and was second in team in steals, Among Big Ten freshman, ranked fifth in steals, Scored in double-figures six times, five of those coming against Big Ten foes, including a career-best 25 points at Illinois (Feb. 9), Averaged 11.8 points over the final four games of the season, A 247Sports and Rivals three-star prospect who attended SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, helping the team to a 22-6 record in 2017-18 under head coach Dave Briski, Averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals-per-game as a senior, Scored 30 points with seven assists against Our Savior Lutheran (N.Y.), Ranked the No. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. Just as Rutgers was being read its last rites on the game in what really was a must win to maintain hope for a repeat trip to the NCAA Tournament, McConnell, like the team, came back from the dead to save the day. Hes always got something lingering, but just doesnt care. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project, Men's Basketball Loses 75-74 to Minnesota on Thursday Night, Caleb McConnell Named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist, Mens Basketball Pulls Off Biggest Comeback Since 1996 at PSU, Men's Basketball Heads to Penn State for Sunday Night Matchup, Men's Basketball Falls to Michigan Thursday. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. He was previously selected to the watchlist last month. After tearful conversations with his father and Pikiell, McConnell elected to have surgery, take a medical redshirt and miss an entire basketball season for the first time in his life. He is an unbelievable person and has been one of our best all-around players on both sides of the floor. Was on the Watch List and a Semifinalist (top 5) for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Without McConnells miraculous play, the eventual 10-0 run is erased and Rutgers would have trailed by six points with just over two minutes to play. His senior year in high school, the question about him was, Are you soft? and now, he might be the toughest damn dude in the Big Ten, which might be the toughest conference in the country. Thank you to Coach Pikiell for believing in me and recruiting a kid from Jacksonville, Florida, and Dayton, Ohio to play at Rutgers when few people believed in me. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Zi5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShqLGYpOwogICAgICAgIHdpbmRv McConnell was a great locker room presence, able to flip a switch from the relentless player he was on the court to a unifying force off of it. pic.twitter.com/TI9R6uK2z3. Jun 01 He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year, one of 10 players as a semi-finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of The Year award and was also earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. In his final year as a Scarlet Knight, McConnell is having an unforgettable last dance and helping Rutgers earn national headlines. How do you survive in here? McConnell asked. bCk7CiAgfSkoKTsKPC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo8bm9zY3JpcHQ+CiAgPGltZyBzcmM9 d2luZG93Ll9kaWRBc3luY0luamVjdEdvb2dsZVRhZ01hbmFnZXIpIHJldHVy Freshmen Derek Simpson and Antwone Woolfolk, who will be needed in Big Ten competition, have gotten valuable time and shown growth this month. ZyAtLT4KCgo=, Enjoying TheKnightReport? Im proud as hell of what hes accomplished, but I cant say Im surprised, Briski said. Those cheers turned into a roar moments later, when the substitution was introduced over the public address system. AP. I appreciate the fans being patient with me and cheering me on and having my back.. Thanks for contacting us. Golden Gophers forward Jameson Battle hit a game-winning buzzer-beater as the horn sounded to give Minnesota the 75-74 victory. 12 Illinois (four). That was until McConnell made up incredible ground and delivered as memorable a block as I can remember for this program. Commanded his way off the bench with a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds) in win against Clemson in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament (Mar. Reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year Caleb McConnell is back and looks to have a huge season for the Scarlet Knights. When he missed eight games to start the 2020-21 season the first missed games of his college career it gnawed at McConnell. Aaron Breitman. Its paid off immensely: McConnell leads the Big Ten in steals (2.1 per game), provided game-changing defensive performances in numerous wins -- including upsets of Big Ten title contenders Purdue and Michigan State -- and is in the thick of the race for the award with a month left in the regular season. Of course, he was ultimately named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The NCAA opened a window for McConnell to return when it granted every Division I player a free year of eligibility that season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in January as Rutgers went on a five-game losing streak that put its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Rutgers Scarlet Knights Newsletter. College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. When the Scarlet Knights opened 7-1, he was dying to join them. A return to Rutgers would be big for the program as head coach Steve Pikiell is looking to retool after losing Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr., both of whom were instrumental in the programs resurgence. A mistake. AP Top 25 Poll: Rutgers drops out of national rankings once again NJ . To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The fifth-year senior guard, who earns his bachelors degree in a couple of weeks, finally got cleared after suffering a left knee injury in early October. Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) waits to enter the game during the first half against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils at Jersey Mike's Arena. "Certainly for the first time these guys being on this stage, they were locked in from the beginning," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. My friends would ask what I was doing or to hang out and Id tell them to meet me at the park. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. Game speed is different than practice; you cant simulate any type of game speed. How do you define wealth and a good life? He was one of ten that made the cut as a semifinalist last season. 71 posts. Simpson, a point guard out of Lenape High School, finished with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting Saturday and brought the crowd to its feet with a thunderous breakaway dunk. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Tanner Holden made a 3-pointer as time expired to give No. (Photos courtesy of the McConnell family). McConnell was the star of the historic win, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and playing his trademark defense. Along with all that, McConnell also racked up a couple of different postseason honors. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm photo: Creative Commons / Gage Skidmore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2./deed.en. McConnell had 12 points (5-11 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one steal over 32 minutes during Sunday's 59-56 win over Penn State. Iowa State kicks senior guard off team: 'Said something I Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', Unprecedented turnaround sets this team up to be MLB's greatest show, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. Led by a dynamic backcourt, Miami owns a 10-point win over Providence and suffered an 18-point loss to Maryland. We miss having you out there. 11.3k Followers, 1,244 Following, 71 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Caleb McConnell (@calebmcco) calebmcco. I said, What are you talking about? Briski said. Thank you to the fans, the University and all who played a part in providing me this opportunity to play at Rutgers. 19). JyZndG1fcHJldmlldz0nKydlbnYtMScrJyZndG1fY29va2llc193aW49eCc7 IHZlcnNpb24gb2YgY3MuanMgc28gd2UgYWx3YXlzIGhhdmUgdGhlIGxhc3Qg
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