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. 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. Sign up for the Rutgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. 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. Rutgers Recruiting: Will Scarlet Knights make surprise push for Bronny James? 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. Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Scarlet Knights took a tough loss in Minneapolis on Thursday night. 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 . The kid just was relentless, he recalled. 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. Watching the play several times, it jumps out as symbolic of this season for Rutgers mens basketball. Minnesota faces Wisconsin at home on Sunday while Rutgers plays host to Northwestern to wrap up their regular seasons. Climbing RU's all-time leader board forcareer steals. c191Y2ZyPTAiIC8+Cjwvbm9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gRW5kIGNvbVNjb3JlIFRh 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. The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this season. N'Diaye did so in the Big East following the 2009-2010 season and McConnell . Senior Caleb McConnell was the first Rutgers player since Hamady N'Diaye to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. 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. #1. On Thursday, Caleb McConnell was one of 15 players named to the 2023 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. After school, hed practice and play with his Dunbar High School team. Hes playing through a partially torn hip labrum and hes working out six times a day. He was rewarded with the honor of moving Rutgers name to the next stage of the bracket. 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 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 Henley's putback cut the deficit to 73-72. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. Dave Briski, head coach at Spire Academy, watched from the stands as McConnell, then a junior at Dunbar High, dominated his opponents. 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. McConnell, teary-eyed and frustrated when he lost, often talked about quitting, but his dad would not let him. McConnell was selfless, a kid who loved basketball and hated to let anyone down. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights INCREDIBLE BLOCK BY @caleb_mcco . The Scarlet Knights are now 14-9 overall and 8-5 in Big Ten play. 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. 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. Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. (Photos courtesy of the McConnell family). As he watched practice following his daily rehab sessions, he could see the chemistry and the potential for a historic season. Kristian Dyer. dy5fZGlkQXN5bmNJbmplY3RHb29nbGVUYWdNYW5hZ2VyID0gdHJ1ZTsKICAg c3M9J3ZpZGVvLWFkLXdyYXBwZXInPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0nLy9j With 178 career steals he ties James Bailey.#TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/z7B2L16nqz, Rutgers Mens Basketball (@RutgersMBB) January 12, 2023. He scored just 4 points, but had 4 rebounds, 4 steals and the all-important blocked shot. He has 2.3 assists a game. 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.. . He came into Rutgers as part of the 2018 recruiting class with Harper Jr., who already hired an agent and will not return to use his final year of college eligibility at Rutgers. He is one of two seniors named as a semifinalist. McConnell's rebounding average of 5.5 per game is just 0.2 higher than last season. IHZlcnNpb24gb2YgY3MuanMgc28gd2UgYWx3YXlzIGhhdmUgdGhlIGxhc3Qg The senior guard has dominated low-major foes just like he did at Loyola-Maryland. Last season, McConnell led the Big Ten in steals with 2.2 per game. Now he did this all while shooting 39.7% from the floor. Game speed is different than practice; you cant simulate any type of game speed. 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. 13 Michigan State (four) and No. d2luZG93Ll9kaWRBc3luY0luamVjdEdvb2dsZVRhZ01hbmFnZXIpIHJldHVy Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. My friends would ask what I was doing or to hang out and Id tell them to meet me at the park. "I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. 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. That was until McConnell made up incredible ground and delivered as memorable a block as I can remember for this program. I was like, You know, hes right. I heard it from the crowd. 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. How do you define wealth and a good life? The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best players in the conference is back. In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. Caleb McConnell began playing basketball around eight years old, and his passion for the game has led him to plenty of success. 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. Bryant returned to his roots in Dayton, Ohio, while Stefanie followed her family to Jacksonville, Fla. I feel like little stuff like that made me a bit tougher and have some more grit.. Rutgers won a game in astounding fashion in the midst of a brutal stretch of the season that theyre turning into opportunity. 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. 33: 26: 2:03: Foul on Antwone . Yes, Rutgers basketball fans fully grasped the importance of seeing No. MARCH. Was the new setting going to make things weird? Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN Call 1-800-GAMBLER. What would they talk about? dCc6CiAgICAgICAgbmV3IERhdGUoKS5nZXRUaW1lKCksZXZlbnQ6J2d0bS5q The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. I just love being outside, playing outside, playing at the park all day. He announced his decision with an Instagram video on June 1st calling Rutgers Nation from his hometown in Florida. Aaron Breitman. He is an unbelievable person and has been one of our best all-around players on both sides of the floor. 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 Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. 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. Led Big Ten in steals, setting new career-high in steals with 70 on the season. I love the fact that I can play him at almost any position while our younger guys are figuring out one position. Those cheers turned into a roar moments later, when the substitution was introduced over the public address system. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. 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 falls to Minnesota at the buzzer, Scarlet Knights suffer gut-punch. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm Reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year Caleb McConnell is back and looks to have a huge season for the Scarlet Knights. On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project. I got to play for my brothers.. 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. Had streak of four games of over four+ steals to key wins over No. 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. From the moment McConnell dribbled a ball at a local YMCA, he was hooked. Hes not going to let anything bother him and hes not going to make any excuses about it. 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. 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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Verified. Then came the texts and calls from teammates that all carried the same message: We really need you this year. Clifford Omoruyi scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Rutgers (18-12, 10-9). 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury The caption read: Proverbs 3:5-6. UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Between them, Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy have played 208 games for Rutgers basketball. I just started laughing and shaking my head when he told me, he said. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, across his stomach in bold, black letters. 16 Ohio State, Had key chase-down block on breakaway layup attempt to spark 10-0 run to close out win over 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. Hes going to go out and 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. He didnt lay down or come out or anything. Caleb Mcconnell gets the layup to fall vs. Penn State Nittany Lions. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu Dont be surprised of the Blue Devils (0-7) remain on Rutgers schedule going forward. 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. Just played through it until the next dead ball, Briski said. As McConnell has stepped up offensively, he has frustrated opponents on the other end of the court. RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. They were wonderful co-parents who remain good friends to this day, but the physical distance between them was tough on their sons. cmlwdCc+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3ZpZGVvLWNvbnRhaW5lcicg 0:05. Garcia added 19 points and Pharrel Payne had 15 for Minnesota (8-20, 2-16 Big Ten), which shot 54 percent (15 of 28) in the second half and made 11 of 24 3-pointers overall. Thanks for contacting us. 113. Meanwhile, McConnell developed and grew as a player. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. Golden Gophers forward Jameson Battle hit a game-winning buzzer-beater as the horn sounded to give Minnesota the 75-74 victory. Rutgers men's basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. 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. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm Leaving his mother, brothers, grandparents and friends was tough, but McConnell was committed to getting better. Afterward, hed put up shots late into the night. It was not a seamless transition. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the . The kids a dog.. 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. That roar became an eruption a minute later, when McConnell converted his first touch into a bucket an eight-foot running floater from the baseline. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. It was just a no-brainer, McConnell said. 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! 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. Follow. Scarlet Nation continues to hear things are trending in that direction as McConnell could use an extra year to improve his draft stock. He has been more involved offensively and is taking advantage of his opportunities. At least one Big East coach, to Briskis amazement, said he was soft. The third son of high school sweethearts Bryant McConnell and Stefanie Kerlin, McConnell was 2 years old when his parents split. bS9ucy5odG1sP2lkPUdUTS1NRjZQWFhDJmFtcDtndG1fYXV0aD1LaEg2aGVD 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Theyve been down and out more times than I can count. Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . 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. When McConnell got to college, his dad finally confessed. Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. 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. "We are excited to welcome Caleb McConnell back for one more season," said head coach Steve Pikiell. Caleb McConnell (22) Guard - Caleb McConnell is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the only individual award given to a RU player since joining . 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. 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 . As Rutgers looks to make a tournament run, McConnell will be critical. He tallied 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds, three assists and a block. 11.3k Followers, 1,244 Following, 71 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Caleb McConnell (@calebmcco) calebmcco. When the Scarlet Knights opened 7-1, he was dying to join them. Instead, Geo Baker hit a step back jumper to cut the lead to 64-62 at the two minute mark. and Caleb McConnell then made one of two for Rutgers. Caleb McConnell was fouled . "And as a competitor, Ive got to rise to the occasion.. LmpzcmRuLmNvbS9zL2NzLmpzP3A9MjI1NDYnIHR5cGU9J3RleHQvamF2YXNj Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. caleb mcconnell rutgers tattoogeorgia foraging laws. 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. They just didnt trust their eyes I guess, I dont know. 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. Season-saving. Neither do we. 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.
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