During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . When Spire Academy, an elite sports performance training and education program in Geneva, Ohio, offered McConnell a chance to transfer there for his senior season, it meant living on his own for the first time 200 miles from his dad and 900 miles from his mom. McConnell was the kind of prospect they wanted a tough kid with lots of upside who loved basketball. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. He was a key member of the 2019-20 team that would have snapped Rutgers then 29-year NCAA Tournament drought had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic. What would they talk about? 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. c191Y2ZyPTAiIC8+Cjwvbm9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gRW5kIGNvbVNjb3JlIFRh 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. The kids fearless, man. Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. dCc6CiAgICAgICAgbmV3IERhdGUoKS5nZXRUaW1lKCksZXZlbnQ6J2d0bS5q 19). Rutgers (18-12 overall, 10-9 Big Ten) led this game through 39 minutes and 59.9 seconds, until Jamison Battle's 3-pointer fell through the net as the buzzer sounded. McConnell logged more than 10 points during each of his last three games started. X2Nvb2tpZXNfd2luPXgnIHN0eWxlPSdkaXNwbGF5Om5vbmU7dmlzaWJpbGl0 "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 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. MUNSTER SECTIONAL. Find doctors, specialized in Cosmetology and compare prices, costs and reviews. The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. After school, hed practice and play with his Dunbar High School team. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. McConnell embraced the physicality and the competition, quickly going from the skinny kid everyone wanted guarding them to their first choice when picking teams. Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. He is a ferocious defender on and off the ball. Rutgers men's basketball's fifth-year captain Caleb McConnell has been named to the 2023 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist, consisting of 10 of the top defenders in the country. Every bit of it., After notching his first double-double of the season against Clemson, Caleb McConnell had the honor of slapping Rutgers into the next round of the NCAA Tournament on a big bracket at Bankers Life: pic.twitter.com/d6hzq4n3GY. On Wednesday night, Rutgers mens basketball completed an improbable comeback to knock off No. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. Battle's game-winn 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. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. Baker scored the final five points for Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights built an 11-point lead and nearly gave it all away. Thats another thing he had to be strong for, his mother said. Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. They just didnt trust their eyes I guess, I dont know. MjQxNDY5JmM3PWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGcnV0Z2Vycy5yaXZhbHMuY29tJTJG 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. Hes going to go out and play.. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. Whenever were in the huddle, hes always saying, Ill guard him. Theres a great feeling as a coach knowing that someone wants to accept the challenge of stopping the best player.. moving Rutgers name to the next stage of the bracket. McConnell likely has a pro career ahead of him, here or abroad, and hell face it the same way he got to where he is now with an insatiable appetite for basketball, a chip on his shoulder, and a belief in himself fueled by those in his corner and the sacrifices he made along the way. California's agriculture industry leans into big tech as farming expenses soar, Gunfire at SW Miami-Dade apartment complex, HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Nantucket boys basketball come up short in MIAA tourney. They have three more ranked teams and six more Quad 1 opponents in a row left on the schedule. Thank you to the fans, the University and all who played a part in providing me this opportunity to play at Rutgers. Jacob Young and Caleb McConnell both scored 13 points and Ron Harper Jr. added 10. Here is another angle that shows the authority in which McConnell blocked the ball but also that the play was clearly a clean stop. He is focused solely on finishing the fourth year of a Big Ten basketball career few believed could happen on the right foot, carrying an unshakable belief that Rutgers can disprove the doubters and return to March Madness. As he waited in the prison, Caleb McConnell didnt know what to expect. Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). Y29tc2NvcmUgPSBfY29tc2NvcmUgfHwgW107CiAgX2NvbXNjb3JlLnB1c2go "And as a competitor, Ive got to rise to the occasion.. He didnt lay down or come out or anything. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But quickly, it was like old times two longtime buddies talking through telephones on two sides of the glass. Sitting at 16-12 (10-8 Big Ten), the Scarlet Knights have the potential to book a tournament berth if they split their remaining regular season games and get at least one win in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Battles game-winning shot capped a 15-4 run in the final 1:15 for Minnesotas only lead of the game. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. 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. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. Scarlet Nation continues to hear things are trending in that direction as McConnell could use an extra year to improve his draft stock. 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. Former Rutgers star Jason McCourty joins Good Morning Football following NFL retirement. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. All I wanted to do was play basketball.. 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. 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. Written off, lost and bewildered. I was like, You know, hes right. I heard it from the crowd. Through six games he's been Rutgers' best all-around player this season. With two games left in the regular season, Rutgers very much controls their NCAA Tournament destiny. 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. He is one of two seniors named as a semifinalist. Rutgers Wrestling Prepares for Big Ten Conference Tournament this Weekend. Of course, he was ultimately named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 16 Ohio State 66-64 behind a 10-0 run in the final 3:48 of the game. 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 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. 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. cG9XSlVIbnFWemRFYTd3JmFtcDtndG1fcHJldmlldz1lbnYtMSZhbXA7Z3Rt Watching the play several times, it jumps out as symbolic of this season for Rutgers mens basketball. He scored just 4 points, but had 4 rebounds, 4 steals and the all-important blocked shot. He has 2.3 assists a game. 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. I said, What are you talking about? Briski said. 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 His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. It will be fascinating to see how his hot hand translates to the upcoming spike in competition. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the . How do you define wealth and a good life? Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell and guard Caleb McConnell (22) are a "match made in heaven," McConnell's high school coach said.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? Zi5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShqLGYpOwogICAgICAgIHdpbmRv All rights reserved (About Us). 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. photo: Creative Commons / Gage Skidmore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2./deed.en. It was just a no-brainer, McConnell said. eTpoaWRkZW4nIHdpZHRoPScwJz48L2lmcmFtZT4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KCgo=, PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncmEtY29udGFpbmVyIGRpc3Ryb19hZCc+CjxkaXYgY2xh Mens Basketball Game Thread: Rutgers at Minnesota. 16 Ohio State. 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!. Z3RtX2F1dGg9JysnS2hINmhlQ3BvV0pVSG5xVnpkRWE3dycrCiAgICAgICAg "It felt good to be back out there with my teammates, my brothers, and hear the crowd cheering.. Caleb Mcconnell gets the layup to fall vs. Penn State Nittany Lions. Those cheers turned into a roar moments later, when the substitution was introduced over the public address system. Neither took the court Friday for the Scarlet Knights' first test . c3M9J3ZpZGVvLWFkLXdyYXBwZXInPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0nLy9j cyd9KTt2YXIgZj1kLmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKHMpWzBdLAogICAg IS. 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. Ive got to yank him out of the gym. On an evening that has suddenly become crucial for its NCAA Tournament hopes, Rutgers will honor its veteran players with its annual Senior Day festivities ahead of their regular season finale against Northwestern at Jersey Mikes Arena on Sunday. We cant do it without you. Climbing RU's all-time leader board forcareer steals. Everyone who follows Rutgers basketball knows that, and you could feel the appreciation in the stands Saturday. Man, it felt good," McConnell said. He was rewarded with the honor of moving Rutgers name to the next stage of the bracket. 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. 11.3K followers. Last season, McConnell led the Big Ten in steals with 2.2 per game. Legendarypic.twitter.com/T5jWZ81x4c, Matt Sugam (@MattSugam) February 10, 2022. Not too bad. Theres not much to be drawn from beating up on an opponent ranked No. 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. We've received your submission. Game speed is different than practice; you cant simulate any type of game speed. I just started laughing and shaking my head when he told me, he said. However, his offensive rebounding rate in Big Ten play is 6.8%. https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/22/rutgers-caleb-mcconnell-is-having-an-impressive-last-dance/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Aaron Breitman. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. When McConnell got to college, his dad finally confessed. Baker was sensational. He doesnt want anybody to know something is hurting. Whats next for Rutgers Athletics following the 2021-2022 season? Battle made three 3s and Dawson Garcia scored four points during the stretch. Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. He has also been a rebounds machine of late, with 32 rebounds so far in 2023. #1. The Buckeyes still led 64-60 with 2:33 to play when they threw the deep pass from their own baseline coming out of a timeout to find Malaki Branham wide open just past midcourt. Nobody wanted him. 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. Was on the Watch List and a Semifinalist (top 5) for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. We miss having you out there. Kristian Dyer. He is averaging 6.5 points per game, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. As McConnell has stepped up offensively, he has frustrated opponents on the other end of the court. Feb 20, 2023. 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. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? Tomorrow marks the deadline for which McConnell can withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and return to . Im so grateful to have been blessed with this group of teammates. Leaving his mother, brothers, grandparents and friends was tough, but McConnell was committed to getting better. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The third son of high school sweethearts Bryant McConnell and Stefanie Kerlin, McConnell was 2 years old when his parents split. At least one Big East coach, to Briskis amazement, said he was soft. Was the new setting going to make things weird? Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. 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. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is a contender for the Big Ten's Defender of the Year award. I really fell in love with the game, with competing and learning new stuff, McConnell said. I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. Hes not going to let anything bother him and hes not going to make any excuses about it. Simply put, it changed the game. 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. Im with this kid every day. Im proud as hell of what hes accomplished, but I cant say Im surprised, Briski said. 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. McConnell isn't the only Scarlet Knight with Dayton roots. 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).
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