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. Minnesota faces Wisconsin at home on Sunday while Rutgers plays host to Northwestern to wrap up their regular seasons. Hell go down as one of the great winners that weve had here, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. The Scarlet Knights close out the regular season on the weekend at home against Penn State. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Rutgers Scarlet Knights Newsletter. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust. Dont be surprised of the Blue Devils (0-7) remain on Rutgers schedule going forward. Photo credit Rutgers Athletics. 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. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. 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!. 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. Hes going to go out and play.. You cant replace 114 games of college experience and the intangibles he brings in terms of leadership and basketball IQ. I appreciate the fans being patient with me and cheering me on and having my back.. So how did McConnell look? Along with all that, McConnell also racked up a couple of different postseason honors. The 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best players in the conference is back. dCc6CiAgICAgICAgbmV3IERhdGUoKS5nZXRUaW1lKCksZXZlbnQ6J2d0bS5q Last season, McConnell led the Big Ten in steals with 2.2 per game. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. Battles game-winning shot capped a 15-4 run in the final 1:15 for Minnesotas only lead of the game. 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. 0:49. 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. to be the Big Tens defensive player of the year. He scored 8 of the final 10 points and finished with a game high 25 points. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Please check your email for a confirmation. Minnesota won 75-74. Im with this kid every day. North Brunswick, New Jersey. All the things Ive been through and all the things Ive overcome, then you throw basketball in there and all the things I dealt with in my college career, I never folded, I never gave up on myself, McConnell said. Up 10 points on the Big Ten's last-place team with 1:15 remaining, with a third straight NCAA Tournament berth nearly locked up, the Scarlet Knights suffered an epic . 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. To see him causing havoc in the Big Ten for the last four years, its just awesome. It was a four point swing that swung the game in Rutgers favor. 13 Michigan State (four) and No. 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. But the other three scholarship Scarlet Knights who are . College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. Through 14 games, the Scarlet Knights senior is averaging a career-high 9.9 points and 3.3 assists per game. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Rutgers mens basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. It was not a seamless transition. McConnell isn't the only Scarlet Knight with Dayton roots. Expect McConnell to once again be one of the Big Ten Conference's top defenders in the 2022-23 season, as he hopes to continue to develop his game and help lead Rutgers to their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. LmpzcmRuLmNvbS9zL2NzLmpzP3A9MjI1NDYnIHR5cGU9J3RleHQvamF2YXNj Legendarypic.twitter.com/T5jWZ81x4c, Matt Sugam (@MattSugam) February 10, 2022. Over the last five years, Caleb McConnell has been a steady presence in the Rutgers lineup. Now he did this all while shooting 39.7% from the floor. . Kristian Dyer. 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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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He woke his dad at 6 a.m. every morning for rides to workouts with a personal trainer. Battle was 7 of 15 from the floor and 6-of-13 shooting from long range. McConnell, teary-eyed and frustrated when he lost, often talked about quitting, but his dad would not let him. The caption read: Proverbs 3:5-6. After watching his son dominate players his age in one-on-one games, Bryant McConnell paid older kids to go all out against his son on the court. 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. UNBREAKABLE.. All rights reserved (About Us). Your account has an invalid email address. I was like, lets just relax and let it come to me.. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. Dave Briski, head coach at Spire Academy, watched from the stands as McConnell, then a junior at Dunbar High, dominated his opponents. Odds & lines subject to change. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. Sophomore guard Jalen Miller has been a defensive specialist to this point, but he broke out on the offensive end Saturday, scoring a career-high six points on 2-3 shooting to go with three rebounds. 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. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. PSBkb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50c0J5VGFnTmFtZSgic2NyaXB0IilbMF07 Reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year Caleb McConnell is back and looks to have a huge season for the Scarlet Knights. With 178 career steals he ties James Bailey.#TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/z7B2L16nqz, Rutgers Mens Basketball (@RutgersMBB) January 12, 2023. When the Scarlet Knights opened 7-1, he was dying to join them. McConnell embraced the physicality and the competition, quickly going from the skinny kid everyone wanted guarding them to their first choice when picking teams. The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this season. In 2018, McConnell was a three-star prospect that was the 73rd-ranked shooting guard in the country. He doesnt want anybody to know something is hurting. Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1) Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8) CROWN POINT SECT But not until he played two possessions on it, including a cross-court sprint into a contested lay-up. 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. 16 Ohio State (four), No. From the moment McConnell dribbled a ball at a local YMCA, he was hooked. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. bS9ucy5odG1sP2lkPUdUTS1NRjZQWFhDJmFtcDtndG1fYXV0aD1LaEg2aGVD bD0nK2w6Jyc7ai5hc3luYz10cnVlO2ouc3JjPQogICAgICAgICdodHRwczov 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. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. MjI3MzMxNDAiLAogICAgYzc6ICJodHRwczovL3J1dGdlcnMucml2YWxzLmNv We cant do it without you. Caleb McConnell began playing basketball around eight years old, and his passion for the game has led him to plenty of success. 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. "It was a tough six weeks for me. Eventually, the outdoor courts in Jacksonville and Dayton became his home. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. On Wednesday night, Rutgers mens basketball completed an improbable comeback to knock off No. 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. cmlwdCc+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3ZpZGVvLWNvbnRhaW5lcicg . Having him on the floor automatically improves Rutgers on both ends, especially when it comes to defense. His 21 steals over a five-game stretch tied him for second most in the Big Ten since 2002-03. Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). INCREDIBLE BLOCK BY @caleb_mcco . VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl McConnells first sport was football, just like his older brothers Bryant and Jordan, but he found another love when he was around 8 and his mom signed him up to play basketball. 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. ICAgfSkod2luZG93LGRvY3VtZW50LCdzY3JpcHQnLCdkYXRhTGF5ZXInLCdH He returned in January as Rutgers went on a five-game losing streak that put its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN. X2Nvb2tpZXNfd2luPXgnIHN0eWxlPSdkaXNwbGF5Om5vbmU7dmlzaWJpbGl0 He has also been a rebounds machine of late, with 32 rebounds so far in 2023. 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. Through six games he's been Rutgers' best all-around player this season. 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. What a spark for @RutgersMBB! 12 Illinois (four). 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. It will be the final home game of fifth-year senior Caleb McConnells career as he runs out of collegiate eligibility after this season. 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. Of course, he was ultimately named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. With two games left in the regular season, Rutgers very much controls their NCAA Tournament destiny. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Tanner Holden made a 3-pointer as time expired to give No. Had streak of four games of over four+ steals to key wins over No. Rutgers biggest test of the season is set for Wednesday with a trip to Miami as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Caleb McConnell is coming back for one more year. AP Top 25 Poll: Rutgers drops out of national rankings once again NJ . Golden Gophers forward Jameson Battle hit a game-winning buzzer-beater as the horn sounded to give Minnesota the 75-74 victory. I just started laughing and shaking my head when he told me, he said. With less than two full weeks left in January, he has 16 steals this month, including a season-high four on January eighth. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. 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. 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. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. 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. (Photos courtesy of the McConnell family). 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. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He is one of two seniors named as a semifinalist. Leaving his mother, brothers, grandparents and friends was tough, but McConnell was committed to getting better. 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). Rutgers Recruiting: Will Scarlet Knights make surprise push for Bronny James? 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. It was so frustrating for me at that time because its, like, Damn, I cant get a break, McConnell said. Here is the legendary play by McConnell that might just go down as the highlight of his Rutgers career at least so far. Former Rutgers star Jason McCourty joins Good Morning Football following NFL retirement. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. What makes McConnell so valuable is how he impacts a game in multiple ways. 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. eTpoaWRkZW4nIHdpZHRoPScwJz48L2lmcmFtZT4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KCgo=, PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncmEtY29udGFpbmVyIGRpc3Ryb19hZCc+CjxkaXYgY2xh I always think in my head, Im unbreakable. I can overcome all those things. INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL'S FRIDAY. 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. 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. I feel like little stuff like that made me a bit tougher and have some more grit.. Theyve been down and out more times than I can count. He is the only Big Ten player to make the semifinalist cut. Pikiell told McConnell to take his time, but McConnells mind was made up: He was coming back to help this team. and Caleb McConnell then made one of two for Rutgers. Join us to discuss the action as it happens live! 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.. How much had he changed? 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. I really fell in love with the game, with competing and learning new stuff, McConnell said. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, across his stomach in bold, black letters. 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. I was like, You know, hes right. I heard it from the crowd. It was a match made in heaven, Briski said. 33: 26: 2:03: Foul on Antwone . He didnt lay down or come out or anything. bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy His impact in many games isnt necessarily fully reflected in the box score. dmVyc2lvbgogICAgcy5zcmMgPSAiaHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL2N4L3Z6 Rutgers falls to Minnesota at the buzzer, Scarlet Knights suffer gut-punch. Jacob Young and Caleb McConnell both scored 13 points and Ron Harper Jr. added 10. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. Big Ten and Big East programs that once had shown interest hesitated to take him. Count them out at your own risk. 16 Ohio State 66-64 behind a 10-0 run in the final 3:48 of the game. 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury Rutgers Wrestling Prepares for Big Ten Conference Tournament this Weekend. "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. My teammates really helped me find my spots by sharing the game., Added Pikiell: Real pleased with what he gave us hes been playing well for us in the absence of Paul and Caleb.. . "I love the fans, such a great atmosphere, a family feel, and I need that," McConnell said. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN 16 Ohio State. PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is closer to receiving national recognition in 2023. 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. Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. 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. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? 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. Follow. The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust. He also added 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He announced his decision with an Instagram video on June 1st "calling Rutgers Nation" from his hometown in Florida. It would be a fitting award to conclude an arduous college basketball career that few believed was possible. When he missed eight games to start the 2020-21 season the first missed games of his college career it gnawed at McConnell. Z3RtX2F1dGg9JysnS2hINmhlQ3BvV0pVSG5xVnpkRWE3dycrCiAgICAgICAg Thank you to all the coaches and staff for supporting me and helping me evolve into the player and person that I am today. Tomorrow marks the deadline for which McConnell can withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and return to Rutgers for one more season. aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv 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. JAMISON BATTLE WITH A BUZZER BEATER FOR @GopherMBB (via @CBBonFOX) pic.twitter.com/NPEFUfaxDa. Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. His cousin dropped his head back and revealed a tattoo on his neck. Hes fearless.. The freshman had 19 points in the game and was a problem for the Scarlet Knights all night. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the . It feels like Ive been through one long fight for years., He announced his decision on Twitter in October. How do you survive in here? McConnell asked. 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. McConnell is one of three foundational veterans in the program, along with Omoruyi and senior point guard Paul Mulcahy. Over the last five years, Caleb McConnell has been a steady presence in the Rutgers lineup. The brotherhood, the culture and the friendships we built with each other are going to last forever. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. 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. Are Democrats excited about another Biden run? McConnell logged more than 10 points during each of his last three games started. He is an unbelievable person and has been one of our best all-around players on both sides of the floor. Everyone who follows Rutgers basketball knows that, and you could feel the appreciation in the stands Saturday. Simply put, it changed the game. Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists .