His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. As McConnell has stepped up offensively, he has frustrated opponents on the other end of the court. It was not a seamless transition. They have three more ranked teams and six more Quad 1 opponents in a row left on the schedule. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. Rutgers basketball has seen a slide in the latest analytics updates from KenPom. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. He was rewarded with the honor of moving Rutgers name to the next stage of the bracket. McConnell Update | Rutgers Scarlet Knights fan forums - TheKnightReport Another look at that block by @caleb_mcco cc @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/Tnj4oR0Lci. Having him on the floor automatically improves Rutgers on both ends, especially when it comes to defense. pic.twitter.com/TI9R6uK2z3. 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. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Tanner Holden made a 3-pointer as time expired to give No. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm I got to play for my brothers.. His movement looked fine, although he seemed a gear short of his typical explosion. Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. 113. Around the Big Ten: Where does Mike DeCourcy have the Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament? It was so frustrating for me at that time because its, like, Damn, I cant get a break, McConnell said. I appreciate the fans being patient with me and cheering me on and having my back.. He has 2.3 assists a game. Gambling problem? 22 on the court for the first time this season. 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. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Yes, Rutgers basketball fans fully grasped the importance of seeing No. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. His cousin dropped his head back and revealed a tattoo on his neck. . He has also been a rebounds machine of late, with 32 rebounds so far in 2023. It was their own fault and the play started with a blown coverage. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. He is a ferocious defender on and off the ball. Get a yearly subscription for $99.95/year or $9.95/month. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Here is another angle that shows the authority in which McConnell blocked the ball but also that the play was clearly a clean stop. Thank you to all the coaches and staff for supporting me and helping me evolve into the player and person that I am today. January 22, 2023 7:47 pm ET. 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. Visit ESPN for the play-by-play of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAAM basketball game on 3 March 2023 . My friends would ask what I was doing or to hang out and Id tell them to meet me at the park. How much had he changed? Nobody wanted him. Instead, Geo Baker hit a step back jumper to cut the lead to 64-62 at the two minute mark. What makes McConnell so valuable is how he impacts a game in multiple ways. I just started laughing and shaking my head when he told me, he said. Senior Caleb McConnell was the first Rutgers player since Hamady N'Diaye to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. 16 Ohio State, Had key chase-down block on breakaway layup attempt to spark 10-0 run to close out win over No. Pikiell told McConnell to take his time, but McConnells mind was made up: He was coming back to help this team. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu Through six games he's been Rutgers' best all-around player this season. 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. . Everyone who follows Rutgers basketball knows that, and you could feel the appreciation in the stands Saturday. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Tip time is 7:15 p.m. Im looking forward to these next couple of games because I know the competition is going to get better," he said. 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. dCc6CiAgICAgICAgbmV3IERhdGUoKS5nZXRUaW1lKCksZXZlbnQ6J2d0bS5q 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. Caleb McConnell UNBREAKABLE Rutgers MBB LLA . Caleb McConnell's Big Ten award another sign Rutgers is a national threat (Photos courtesy of the McConnell family). I couldnt imagine not having graduated high school and youve already had to adjust a couple of times, missing your family because of something you wanted so bad, something that you believed in so bad for yourself. 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. That is the minimum expectation from him across March, when Rutgers will play two more regular-season games . 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. 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! Rutgers basketball has seen a slide in the latest analytics updates from KenPom. "I made a pass to Cliff (Omoruyi) and he didnt see it coming; I was forcing things, and then I hear someone say, Caleb, just let it come to you! After that I kind of relaxed. 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. Please update it here. With two games left in the regular season, Rutgers very much controls their NCAA Tournament destiny. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . McConnell's has a decorated resume through 60 career starts . aWQ9J2RzX2RlZmF1bHRfYW5jaG9yJz48L2Rpdj4KPC9kaXY+CjwvZGl2PgoK, Certain Data by Sportradar and Stats Perform, PCEtLSBCZWdpbiBjb21TY29yZSBUYWcgLS0+Cgo8c2NyaXB0PgogIHZhciBf UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Between them, Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy have played 208 games for Rutgers basketball. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 13 Michigan State (four) and No. b3ItMjAyMi0yMy1zZWFzb24iCiAgfSk7CiAgKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgewogICAg I was like, You know, hes right. I heard it from the crowd. McConnell was the kind of prospect they wanted a tough kid with lots of upside who loved basketball. 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. The kid just was relentless, he recalled. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Rutgers Scarlet Knights Newsletter. Those cheers turned into a roar moments later, when the substitution was introduced over the public address system. Former Rutgers star Jason McCourty joins Good Morning Football following NFL retirement. Was the new setting going to make things weird? 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. 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. Its great to have him it gives me a lift.. 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 Henleys putback cut the deficit to 73-72. McConnell, who led the conference with 70 steals last season, decided for one last ride with his beloved Scarlet Knights after working out with several NBA teams this offseason. In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. Holden beats buzzer with 3, No. 25 Ohio State edges Rutgers 16 Ohio State 66-64 behind a 10-0 run in the final 3:48 of the game. Dont be surprised of the Blue Devils (0-7) remain on Rutgers schedule going forward. The Scarlet Knights are now 14-9 overall and 8-5 in Big Ten play. "Certainly for the first time these guys being on this stage, they were locked in from the beginning," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. It feels like Ive been through one long fight for years., He announced his decision on Twitter in October. "And since we have such a different dynamic (in terms of personnel fit), I think this is actually a better team.. Hes not soft. 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 warmups ahead of Saturday's win over Wisconsin . Big Ten and Big East programs that once had shown interest hesitated to take him. dmVyc2lvbgogICAgcy5zcmMgPSAiaHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL2N4L3Z6 Rutgers basketball: Caleb McConnell debuts in romp of Central Connecticut Aaron Breitman. Caleb McConnell's stuff of legend - On the Banks As he watched practice following his daily rehab sessions, he could see the chemistry and the potential for a historic season. Rutgers mens basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. Freshmen Derek Simpson and Antwone Woolfolk, who will be needed in Big Ten competition, have gotten valuable time and shown growth this month. McConnell logged more than 10 points during each of his last three games started. dy5fZGlkQXN5bmNJbmplY3RHb29nbGVUYWdNYW5hZ2VyID0gdHJ1ZTsKICAg A three-star recruit, he had nowhere to go. Im so grateful to have been blessed with this group of teammates. They just didnt trust their eyes I guess, I dont know. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. 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. 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. Photo credit Rutgers Athletics. Now he did this all while shooting 39.7% from the floor. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . Baker scored the final five points for Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights built an 11-point lead and nearly gave it all away. 1,244 following. bS9ucy5odG1sP2lkPUdUTS1NRjZQWFhDJmFtcDtndG1fYXV0aD1LaEg2aGVD When the Scarlet Knights opened 7-1, he was dying to join them. As expected, rusty. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Caleb McConnell (G) Stats, News, Rumors, Bio, Video - Yahoo Sports McConnell told him about his budding basketball career and his cousin described life on the inside: the lack of freedom, the danger of being housed with violent criminals, the feeling of separation from the world and everything hes known. Thanks for contacting us. His impact in many games isnt necessarily fully reflected in the box score. Rutgers biggest test of the season is set for Wednesday with a trip to Miami as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. to be the Big Tens defensive player of the year. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. 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. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. It would be a fitting award to conclude an arduous college basketball career that few believed was possible. 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.