I was like, lets just relax and let it come to me.. I appreciate the fans being patient with me and cheering me on and having my back.. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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). He followed it up with the best summer of his college career and entered his senior year with a specific goal: to be the Big Tens defensive player of the year. His cousin dropped his head back and revealed a tattoo on his neck. 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! On Thursday, Caleb McConnell was one of 15 players named to the 2023 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. 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. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Simply put, it changed the game. Im with this kid every day. 0:05. Having him on the floor automatically improves Rutgers on both ends, especially when it comes to defense. He was one of ten that made the cut as a semifinalist last season. Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. Gambling problem? His level of compete was one of the highest Ive ever seen at that age. 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. The sacrifices, the surgery, the waiting were worth it for that moment, McConnell said. Pikiell and his staff loved what they saw on tape. However, it was Caleb McConnells block after coming out of seemingly nowhere that is ultimately the play that will be most remembered in this victory. Now he did this all while shooting 39.7% from the floor. Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. 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!. 28,939. On Wednesday night, Rutgers mens basketball completed an improbable comeback to knock off No. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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.. Led by a dynamic backcourt, Miami owns a 10-point win over Providence and suffered an 18-point loss to Maryland. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Nobody wanted him. 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. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. How do you survive in here? McConnell asked. He is averaging 6.5 points per game, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds. According to a former coach, he is also toughest damn dude in the Big Ten.. The summer before his freshman season, McConnell recovered from surgery on the broken foot. My friends would ask what I was doing or to hang out and Id tell them to meet me at the park. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell reacts during Rutgers' loss to Minnesota on March 2. There were the attributes obvious to everyone some sharp shooting, an ability to drive to the rim, dynamic playmaking, a willingness to pass the ball but Briski was impressed by something else. 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. 16 Ohio State. Thanks for contacting us. In 2018, McConnell was a three-star prospect that was the 73rd-ranked shooting guard in the country. Rutgers is the last team in the NCAA Tournament? He tallied 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds, three assists and a block. Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . They just didnt trust their eyes I guess, I dont know. Rutgers Basketball got some good news today as wing player intends to withdraw his name from the 2022 NBA Draft and will return to college for one last season with the Scarlet Knights. So how did McConnell look? Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. He is an unbelievable person and has been one of our best all-around players on both sides of the floor. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust. He always wanted to get better.. College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. Thank you to my family for making me the man I am today and supporting me through every up and down. I feel like little stuff like that made me a bit tougher and have some more grit.. Neither do we. 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. 13 Michigan State (four) and No. All I wanted to do was play basketball.. Its about me finding the right time and my spots in the game, Miller said. UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Between them, Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy have played 208 games for Rutgers basketball. Bryant returned to his roots in Dayton, Ohio, while Stefanie followed her family to Jacksonville, Fla. I love the fact that I can play him at almost any position while our younger guys are figuring out one position. Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports Man, it felt good," McConnell said. Join us to discuss the action as it happens live! Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is not expected to play in Thursday night's meeting with Michigan due to the back injury he suffered during pregame Read more on nj.com. Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. He is rarely the Scarlet Knights top scorer, but he creates scoring chances for himself and his teammates because of his defensive ability. 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. Golden Gophers forward Jameson Battle hit a game-winning buzzer-beater as the horn sounded to give Minnesota the 75-74 victory. cyd9KTt2YXIgZj1kLmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKHMpWzBdLAogICAg Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the . The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. The play also sent the RAC faithful into a frenzy the rest of the way that helped propel this team to victory. PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is closer to receiving national recognition in 2023. That is the furthest thing from his mind. Then, you factor in his rebounds and his assists, he does a lot of things for us that equate to winning. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. It was a Lebron James level type of defensive play. McConnell's has a decorated resume through 60 career starts . McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. His back slowly started to heal, allowing him to participate in practice on the scout team. How much had he changed? 19). He didnt lay down or come out or anything. When McConnell got to college, his dad finally confessed. 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. Rutgers' Geo Baker, left, Ron Harper Jr., middle, and Caleb McConnell walk off the court after the team's loss to Notre Dame in a First Four game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament . Meanwhile, McConnell developed and grew as a player. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. When visiting his dad in the summer, the routine was the same: hours spent at outdoor courts and in the local recreation center, where his aunt organized a basketball camp. 12 Illinois (four). A three-star recruit, he had nowhere to go. "Certainly for the first time these guys being on this stage, they were locked in from the beginning," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. As he waited in the prison, Caleb McConnell didnt know what to expect. Despite the bumps and bruises, McConnell progressed from a freshman reserve who displayed occasional glimpses of his potential to a sophomore starter. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. With less than two full weeks left in January, he has 16 steals this month, including a season-high four on January eighth. Dave Briski, head coach at Spire Academy, watched from the stands as McConnell, then a junior at Dunbar High, dominated his opponents. 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 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. 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. Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Scarlet Knights took a tough loss in Minneapolis on Thursday night. MjI3MzMxNDAiLAogICAgYzc6ICJodHRwczovL3J1dGdlcnMucml2YWxzLmNv 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. March 2, 2022 6:24 am ET. He also drew a charge and dished out a point guard-quality assist. Hes going to go out and play.. Everyone who follows Rutgers basketball knows that, and you could feel the appreciation in the stands Saturday. 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. Mulcahy remains sidelined indefinitely by left shoulder injury; Pikiell said he's been cleared to practice but not for contact. eTpoaWRkZW4nIHdpZHRoPScwJz48L2lmcmFtZT4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KCgo=, PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncmEtY29udGFpbmVyIGRpc3Ryb19hZCc+CjxkaXYgY2xh The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is pulling his name out of the NBA Draft pool and is returning to Rutgers for his final season . 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. With two steals tonight Caleb McConnell has officially moved into 5th all-time at Rutgers. 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. RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. Scarlet Nation continues to hear things are trending in that direction as McConnell could use an extra year to improve his draft stock. 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. The summer after, he had surgery to repair his hip injuries. On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project. Hes not going to let anything bother him and hes not going to make any excuses about it. McConnell was the star of the historic win, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and playing his trademark defense. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Rutgers Scarlet Knights Newsletter. c191Y2ZyPTAiIC8+Cjwvbm9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gRW5kIGNvbVNjb3JlIFRh ZyAtLT4KCgo=, Enjoying TheKnightReport? IS. In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is a contender for the Big Ten's Defender of the Year award. Its a real morale booster to see Caleb on the floor," sophomore guard Jalen Miller said. 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. 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Afterward, hed put up shots late into the night. McConnell logged more than 10 points during each of his last three games started. Today, the word is tattooed across his stomach in bold, black letters. It will be the final home game of fifth-year senior Caleb McConnell's career as he runs out of collegiate eligibility after this season. What makes McConnell so valuable is how he impacts a game in multiple ways. The Scarlet Knights are now 14-9 overall and 8-5 in Big Ten play. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. MUNSTER SECTIONAL. When he missed eight games to start the 2020-21 season the first missed games of his college career it gnawed at McConnell. Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. It will be the final home game of fifth-year senior Caleb McConnells career as he runs out of collegiate eligibility after this season. Neither took the court Friday for the Scarlet Knights' first test . bCk7CiAgfSkoKTsKPC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo8bm9zY3JpcHQ+CiAgPGltZyBzcmM9 McConnells has a decorated resume through 60 career starts and 114 games played. Thats another thing he had to be strong for, his mother said. "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. 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. Mens Basketball Game Thread: Rutgers at Minnesota. One phrase can describe senior guard Caleb McConnell's four-year career as a member of the Scarlet Knights (18-12, 12-8): tough as nails.. Legendarypic.twitter.com/T5jWZ81x4c, Matt Sugam (@MattSugam) February 10, 2022. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. X2Nvb2tpZXNfd2luPXgnIHN0eWxlPSdkaXNwbGF5Om5vbmU7dmlzaWJpbGl0 Caleb McConnell UNBREAKABLE Rutgers MBB LLA . 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. Im unbreakable because no matter what happens, Im still going to keep going and overcome all the challenges, all the injuries, all the setbacks, all the doubts. In his final year as a Scarlet Knight, McConnell is having an unforgettable last dance and helping Rutgers earn national headlines. aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv photo: Creative Commons / Gage Skidmore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2./deed.en. That is the minimum expectation from him across March, when Rutgers will play two more regular-season games . Watching the play several times, it jumps out as symbolic of this season for Rutgers mens basketball. 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. 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury He is one of two seniors named as a semifinalist. It was a four point swing that swung the game in Rutgers favor. "I love the fans, such a great atmosphere, a family feel, and I need that," McConnell said. McConnell made the 15-minute walk from his moms Jacksonville apartment to the courts and he spent hours in pickup games, a majority of which against grown men. Players didnt call fouls because there were none allowed. Another look at that block by @caleb_mcco cc @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/Tnj4oR0Lci. McConnell was selfless, a kid who loved basketball and hated to let anyone down. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Rutgers Wrestling: Coach Scott Goodale gives early lineup preview, Rutgers Football: 5 things to watch during training camp. "Caleb has been the ultimate ambassador for our program on and off the court. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. Caleb McConnell was fouled . It was a match made in heaven, Briski said. Yesterday afternoon, senior guard Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers men's basketball team was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

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