Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. Senior Caleb McConnell was the first Rutgers player since Hamady N'Diaye to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. "I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. Afterward, hed put up shots late into the night. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. eTpoaWRkZW4nIHdpZHRoPScwJz48L2lmcmFtZT4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KCgo=, PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncmEtY29udGFpbmVyIGRpc3Ryb19hZCc+CjxkaXYgY2xh Rutgers was carried by a stellar night from senior . RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. He didnt lay down or come out or anything. No Rutgers fans, the chase down block by Caleb McConnell was not a dreamGame-saving. 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. McConnells return comes at a crucial juncture for Rutgers (5-1), which enters the schedules biggest gauntlet: at Miami Wednesday, followed by Big Ten favorite Indiana at home, at Ohio State, and then home games against rival Seton Hall and Wake Forest. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell averaged 7.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game, all of which were considered career highs for him. 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. 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. The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this . 9 recruit in Ohio by 247Sports.com, Averaged 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior at Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar High before transferring to SPIRE, A 2016-2017 Associated Press Southwest All-District II honoree, Competed on the AAU circuit for C2K Elite, Son of Bryant McConnell and Stefanie Meade, Signed with Scarlet Knights over reported offers from West Virginia, Wichita State, UMass, St. Bonaventure, Temple, Missouri State, Wright State, Akron and Kent State. But quickly, it was like old times two longtime buddies talking through telephones on two sides of the glass. I really fell in love with the game, with competing and learning new stuff, McConnell said. It will be fascinating to see how his hot hand translates to the upcoming spike in competition. But not until he played two possessions on it, including a cross-court sprint into a contested lay-up. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, News never stops. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. The summer after, he had surgery to repair his hip injuries. In 2018, McConnell was a three-star prospect that was the 73rd-ranked shooting guard in the country. Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. 16 Ohio State 66-64 behind a 10-0 run in the final 3:48 of the game. Caleb McConnell began playing basketball around eight years old, and his passion for the game has led him to plenty of success. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. They have a 4-3 record against Quad 1 opponents and have won back to back games against ranked foes for the first time since 2008. Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. (Photos courtesy of the McConnell family). cyd9KTt2YXIgZj1kLmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKHMpWzBdLAogICAg Last season, McConnell led the Big Ten in steals with 2.2 per game. He has 2.3 assists a game. bCk7CiAgfSkoKTsKPC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo8bm9zY3JpcHQ+CiAgPGltZyBzcmM9 1,244 following. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. Will have a story up soon, but you'll hear first: Pikiell said he is not expecting Caleb McConnell to be available on Thursday against Michigan due to the back injury he sustained during warmups for the Wisconsin game. It was so frustrating for me at that time because its, like, Damn, I cant get a break, McConnell said. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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). The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. --------------------------------------------------------------, Talk about it inside The Round Table Message Board, Talk about it on the Rutgers Hoops Free Message Board, PHNjcmlwdD4KICAoZnVuY3Rpb24odyxkLHMsbCxpKXsKICAgICAgICBpZiAo As McConnell has stepped up offensively, he has frustrated opponents on the other end of the court. PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is closer to receiving national recognition in 2023. McConnell made the heroic play with four fouls and put himself on the line physically as well to make the game saving block. With 178 career steals he ties James Bailey.#TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/z7B2L16nqz, Rutgers Mens Basketball (@RutgersMBB) January 12, 2023. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 16 Ohio State, Had key chase-down block on breakaway layup attempt to spark 10-0 run to close out win over No. That label of this soft, skinny kid, I think it pissed him off, quite frankly.. Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. McConnell would bring veteran leadership back to the team and he was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season. Your account has an invalid email address. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Photo credit Rutgers Athletics. So how did McConnell look? The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "We are excited to welcome Caleb McConnell back for one more season," said head coach Steve Pikiell. Meanwhile, McConnell developed and grew as a player. 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. dmFyIHMgPSBkb2N1bWVudC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KCJzY3JpcHQiKSwgZWwg aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv Its about me finding the right time and my spots in the game, Miller said. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball: Caleb McConnell debuts in romp of CCSU, Rutgers basketball: Caleb McConnell debuts in romp of CCSU, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie. bmV3cyUyRmNhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m Caleb McConnell is a semifinalist for Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. LmpzcmRuLmNvbS9zL2NzLmpzP3A9MjI1NDYnIHR5cGU9J3RleHQvamF2YXNj Its unlikely the Scarlet Knights will return to the NCAA Tournament this season, but McConnell has another year of eligibility, so he can return and make another run if he wants. dy5fZGlkQXN5bmNJbmplY3RHb29nbGVUYWdNYW5hZ2VyID0gdHJ1ZTsKICAg It was his way of getting me better. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . As he watched practice following his daily rehab sessions, he could see the chemistry and the potential for a historic season. The award comes days after the Scarlet Knights' (18-12, 12-8) season finale win over Penn State.. McConnell, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, earned the prestigious award with 67 total steals this season, 20 more than second-place Hakim Hart. c3M9J3ZpZGVvLWFkLXdyYXBwZXInPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0nLy9j Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports He kept going at dudes. Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers defeats Michigan State, 84-63. Jun 01 ICAgfSkod2luZG93LGRvY3VtZW50LCdzY3JpcHQnLCdkYXRhTGF5ZXInLCdH Game speed is different than practice; you cant simulate any type of game speed. They have three more ranked teams and six more Quad 1 opponents in a row left on the schedule. 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. Rutgers senior guard Caleb McConnell's availability for the start of the 2022-23 season is unclear as he works his way back from the knee injury he sustained in practice earlier this month, head . 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. pic.twitter.com/TI9R6uK2z3. Whats next for Rutgers Athletics following the 2021-2022 season? Caleb Mcconnell gets the layup to fall vs. Penn State Nittany Lions. 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. Rutgers Wrestling Prepares for Big Ten Conference Tournament this Weekend. However, his offensive rebounding rate in Big Ten play is 6.8%. He also drew a charge and dished out a point guard-quality assist. Here is the legendary play by McConnell that might just go down as the highlight of his Rutgers career at least so far. Wearing a heavy brace on his leg, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year came off the bench and logged 25 minutes during the Scarlet Knights 83-49 victory over Central Connecticut State. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. How much had he changed? PISCATAWAY A huge cheer arose from the 5,000 denizens of Jersey Mikes Arena five minutes into Saturdays game, when Caleb McConnell rose from the bench and checked in at the scorers table. cG9XSlVIbnFWemRFYTd3JmFtcDtndG1fcHJldmlldz1lbnYtMSZhbXA7Z3Rt AP Top 25 Poll: Rutgers drops out of national rankings once again NJ . 10 Iowa as he recovered from a back injury, Scored 12 points with 3 assists and four rebounds versus Ohio State (Jan. 9), Posted season-highs with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in win over Minnesota (Feb. 4). Mulcahy remains sidelined indefinitely by left shoulder injury; Pikiell said he's been cleared to practice but not for contact. In unserem Vergleich haben wir die unterschiedlichsten 70413 lego am Markt unter die Lupe genommen und die wichtigsten Eigenschaften, die Kostenstruktur und die Bewertungen der Kunden abgewogen. 11.3k Followers, 1,244 Following, 71 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Caleb McConnell (@calebmcco) calebmcco. 71 posts. 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. Woolfolk, the backup center, tallied 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added four boards and two steals. Scored in double-figures four times in a five-game span (Clemson, Purdue, Seton Hall, Maine), 16 points versus Clemson was new career-high, Also set career-highs in rebounds (12, Seton Hall), assists (9, UMass) and steals (6, UMass), Had four steals in each of wins over No. Im with this kid every day. Jacob Young and Caleb McConnell both scored 13 points and Ron Harper Jr. added 10. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. Rutgers Basketball got some good news today as wing player Caleb McConnell intends to withdraw his name from the 2022 NBA Draft and will return to college for one last season with the Scarlet Knights. Climbing RU's all-time leader board forcareer steals. Aaron Breitman. . With two steals tonight Caleb McConnell has officially moved into 5th all-time at Rutgers. 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. 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. On Thursday, Caleb McConnell was one of 15 players named to the 2023 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. It will eventually come off. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. His 21 steals over a five-game stretch tied him for second most in the Big Ten since 2002-03. Ron Harper Jr. spent a good portion of his childhood in the city where his famous father, five-time NBA champion Ron Harper Sr., grew up. 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! It was a four point swing that swung the game in Rutgers favor. Rutgers plays at Indiana on Wednesday night, another bubble team in terms of NCAA Tournament projections. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. 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. PSBkb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50c0J5VGFnTmFtZSgic2NyaXB0IilbMF07 Pikiell and his staff loved what they saw on tape. Dont be surprised of the Blue Devils (0-7) remain on Rutgers schedule going forward. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Neither do we. 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. 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. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Rutgers Scarlet Knights Newsletter. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. Rutgers mens basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. AP. That has made Rutgers a tough matchup regardless of the opponent. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. MINNEAPOLIS Jamison Battle hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointerand finished with 20 points as Minnesota beat Rutgers 75-74 on Thursday night to snap a 12-game losing streak. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. There is still the option to withdraw up until June 13th, as per the NBA rules, but that would not allow them to retain their college eligibility. Cam Spencer (18 points on 6-8 shooting, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) looks fully in the flow of Rutgers schemes. Clifford Omoruyi scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Rutgers (18-12, 10-9). AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 0:49. Hes playing through a partially torn hip labrum and hes working out six times a day. Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). My friends would ask what I was doing or to hang out and Id tell them to meet me at the park. Baker was sensational. It was just a no-brainer, McConnell said. Despite the bumps and bruises, McConnell progressed from a freshman reserve who displayed occasional glimpses of his potential to a sophomore starter. College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. "Ive been out these last six weeks and had just three or four practices. 13 Wisconsin (six) and No. Hes just tough. Over the last five years, Caleb McConnell has been a steady presence in the Rutgers lineup. Im proud as hell of what hes accomplished, but I cant say Im surprised, Briski said. His cousin dropped his head back and revealed a tattoo on his neck. Battles game-winning shot capped a 15-4 run in the final 1:15 for Minnesotas only lead of the game. 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. Tomorrow marks the deadline for which McConnell can withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and return to . Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. What would they talk about? Feb 20, 2023. He tallied 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds, three assists and a block. That was until McConnell made up incredible ground and delivered as memorable a block as I can remember for this program. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. On Wednesday night, Rutgers mens basketball completed an improbable comeback to knock off No. The kids fearless, man. Simply put, it changed the game. He announced his decision with an Instagram video on June 1st calling Rutgers Nation from his hometown in Florida. INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL'S FRIDAY. He caught the pass cleanly and looked to have a clear path to the basket in what would have been a devastating play for Rutgers to allow in that situation. 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. Zi5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShqLGYpOwogICAgICAgIHdpbmRv I appreciate the fans being patient with me and cheering me on and having my back.. Yesterday afternoon, senior guard Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers men's basketball team was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury Bryant returned to his roots in Dayton, Ohio, while Stefanie followed her family to Jacksonville, Fla. VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl 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. Caleb McConnell was fouled . Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy 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. 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. It was his second consecutive game with 4 steals and McConnell is doing everything possible to boost his candidacy for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year or worst case the All-Big Ten Defensive Team. 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. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. His movement looked fine, although he seemed a gear short of his typical explosion. Find doctors, specialized in Cosmetology and compare prices, costs and reviews. Kaleb Johnson leaving Rutgers football to join the Florida Gators in the SEC, Antwann Hill Jr. discusses Rutgers football offer and where things stand with Ohio State, Rutgers basketball dominates and somehow loses at Minnesota, CBS Sports Jerry Palm has Rutgers basketball in the First Four. With two games left in the regular season, Rutgers very much controls their NCAA Tournament destiny. 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. We've received your submission. Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN. He is the only Big Ten player to make the semifinalist cut. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. As Rutgers looks to make a tournament run, McConnell will be critical. The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. 13 Michigan State and No. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Yes, Rutgers basketball fans fully grasped the importance of seeing No. We cant do it without you. 12 Illinois (four). But the other three scholarship Scarlet Knights who are . His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. He is averaging 6.5 points per game, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds. Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Scarlet Knights took a tough loss in Minneapolis on Thursday night. photo: Creative Commons / Gage Skidmore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2./deed.en. The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this season. Play By Play - 1st Half; Time Remaining RU Away Team Score Play Team Indicator Home Team Score PSU Game Score Team Indicator Play; 19:36: TURNOVER by MCCONNELL,CALEB Not too bad. 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. Imh0dHBzOi8vc2Iuc2NvcmVjYXJkcmVzZWFyY2guY29tL3A/YzE9MiZjMj03 "We've been trying to let these guys know we need more from them with me and Paul out, and theyve been bringing it," McConnell said. The Rutgers guard overcame a childhood that hopscotched from Florida to Ohio and eventually left him living on his own to pursue his dream.