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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The play also sent the RAC faithful into a frenzy the rest of the way that helped propel this team to victory. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. 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. He is an unbelievable person and has been one of our best all-around players on both sides of the floor. Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1) Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8) CROWN POINT SECT I was like, lets just relax and let it come to me.. Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . Rutgers men's basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. I just love being outside, playing outside, playing at the park all day. Just played through it until the next dead ball, Briski said. It was his way of getting me better. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. Kristian Dyer. Hes not soft. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "And as a competitor, Ive got to rise to the occasion.. Hes always got something lingering, but just doesnt care. a cross-court sprint into a contested lay-up. It was just a no-brainer, McConnell said. Led by a dynamic backcourt, Miami owns a 10-point win over Providence and suffered an 18-point loss to Maryland. I have so much love for them, and I wouldnt be where I am without them. Clifford Omoruyi scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Rutgers (18-12, 10-9). January 22, 2023 7:47 pm ET. 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. With McConnell's return, Rutgers Basketball now has two open scholarships remaining. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 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). Last season, McConnell led the Big Ten in steals with 2.2 per game. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. Former Rutgers star Jason McCourty joins Good Morning Football following NFL retirement. Rutgers Recruiting: Will Scarlet Knights make surprise push for Bronny James? 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 Rutgers for one more season. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. His cousin dropped his head back and revealed a tattoo on his neck. Caleb McConnell was fouled . McConnell, teary-eyed and frustrated when he lost, often talked about quitting, but his dad would not let him. Theres not much to be drawn from beating up on an opponent ranked No. Legendarypic.twitter.com/T5jWZ81x4c, Matt Sugam (@MattSugam) February 10, 2022. They were wonderful co-parents who remain good friends to this day, but the physical distance between them was tough on their sons. Laser Tattoo Removal clinics in Taipei City at the best price. 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. March 2, 2022 6:24 am ET. 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. dmFyIHMgPSBkb2N1bWVudC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KCJzY3JpcHQiKSwgZWwg The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. caleb mcconnell rutgers tattoogeorgia foraging laws. A return to Rutgers would be big for the program as head coach Steve Pikiell is looking to retool after losing Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr., both of whom were instrumental in the programs resurgence. Caleb McConnell UNBREAKABLE Rutgers MBB LLA . Afterward, hed put up shots late into the night. It feels like Ive been through one long fight for years., He announced his decision on Twitter in October. "Ive been out these last six weeks and had just three or four practices. 16 Ohio State (four), No. Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. 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 one of two seniors named as a semifinalist. 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. 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!. No Rutgers fans, the chase down block by Caleb McConnell was not a dreamGame-saving. 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. A three-star recruit, he had nowhere to go. 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. 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. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu 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. Thats another thing he had to be strong for, his mother 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 dy5fZGlkQXN5bmNJbmplY3RHb29nbGVUYWdNYW5hZ2VyID0gdHJ1ZTsKICAg He was one of ten that made the cut as a semifinalist last season. Rutgers Wrestling: Coach Scott Goodale gives early lineup preview, Rutgers Football: 5 things to watch during training camp. 12 Illinois (four). Gambling problem? Neither do we. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell averaged 7.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game, all of which were considered career highs for him. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. and Caleb McConnell then made one of two for Rutgers. The summer after, he had surgery to repair his hip injuries. 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. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. Mens Basketball Game Thread: Rutgers at Minnesota. McConnells has a decorated resume through 60 career starts and 114 games played. "Certainly for the first time these guys being on this stage, they were locked in from the beginning," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. Battle's game-winn When he missed eight games to start the 2020-21 season the first missed games of his college career it gnawed at McConnell. McConnell's rebounding average of 5.5 per game is just 0.2 higher than last season. 0:05. Season-saving. Follow. Count them out at your own risk. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. But not until he played two possessions on it, including a cross-court sprint into a contested lay-up. Yesterday afternoon, senior guard Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers men's basketball team was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. From the moment McConnell dribbled a ball at a local YMCA, he was hooked. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. The brotherhood, the culture and the friendships we built with each other are going to last forever. 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. 8/10 Indiana, Earned All-Met Player of the Week (Dec. 6), Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, First Rutgers player to win conference Defensive Player of the Year award since Hamady Ndiaye in 2009-10, Also named Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and to Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Despite the bumps and bruises, McConnell progressed from a freshman reserve who displayed occasional glimpses of his potential to a sophomore starter. What makes McConnell so valuable is how he impacts a game in multiple ways. bD0nK2w6Jyc7ai5hc3luYz10cnVlO2ouc3JjPQogICAgICAgICdodHRwczov 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 (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. The freshman had 19 points in the game and was a problem for the Scarlet Knights all night. "Caleb has been the ultimate ambassador for our program on and off the court. Even by Rutgers basketball's historically painful standards, Thursday's loss at Minnesota ranks among the most infamous. 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. He always wanted to get better.. "It was a tough six weeks for me. 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. Climbing RU's all-time leader board forcareer steals. In unserem Vergleich haben wir die unterschiedlichsten 70413 lego am Markt unter die Lupe genommen und die wichtigsten Eigenschaften, die Kostenstruktur und die Bewertungen der Kunden abgewogen. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. When he reached eighth grade, his parents decided that a permanent move to Dayton to be with his father would be the best path toward a future in basketball. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. He didnt lay down or come out or anything. His movement looked fine, although he seemed a gear short of his typical explosion. 0:49. Thanks for contacting us. 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. Of course, he hustled. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). bmV3cyUyRmNhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. 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.. Was the new setting going to make things weird? I always think in my head, Im unbreakable. I can overcome all those things. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. 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. At least one Big East coach, to Briskis amazement, said he was soft. McConnell made his official visit to Rutgers in the spring and by the end of the weekend, he was a Scarlet Knight. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It was not a seamless transition. 33: 26: 2:03: Foul on Antwone . 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. All rights reserved (About Us). I love the fact that I can play him at almost any position while our younger guys are figuring out one position. The summer before his freshman season, McConnell recovered from surgery on the broken foot. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. Woolfolk, the backup center, tallied 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added four boards and two steals. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project. Jun 01 Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers defeats Michigan State, 84-63. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. North Brunswick, New Jersey. McConnell's has a decorated resume through 60 career starts . In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. c191Y2ZyPTAiIC8+Cjwvbm9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gRW5kIGNvbVNjb3JlIFRh 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. 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. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. 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. Y29tc2NvcmUgPSBfY29tc2NvcmUgfHwgW107CiAgX2NvbXNjb3JlLnB1c2go Baker scored the final five points for Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights built an 11-point lead and nearly gave it all away. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . Battle made three 3s and Dawson Garcia scored four points during the stretch. It was a match made in heaven, Briski said. 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. Im proud as hell of what hes accomplished, but I cant say Im surprised, Briski said. That was until McConnell made up incredible ground and delivered as memorable a block as I can remember for this program. Im so grateful to have been blessed with this group of teammates. 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. Sign up for the Rutgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He did that every day. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust.