The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. Aaron Breitman. Please update it here. Led Big Ten in steals, setting new career-high in steals with 70 on the season. In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) waits to enter the game during the first half against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils at Jersey Mike's Arena. 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 . Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN. 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. 13 Wisconsin (six) and No. 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. Sign up for the Rutgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He was a dogged worker, the rare player Briski had to ask to spend less time in the gym. Rutgers basketball has seen a slide in the latest analytics updates from KenPom. Hes going to go out and play.. After school, hed practice and play with his Dunbar High School team. At least one Big East coach, to Briskis amazement, said he was soft. Buzzer-beater caps Gophers' comeback win over Rutgers 75-74 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. All it takes is perseverance, keeping my head down and keep going.. Was on the Watch List and a Semifinalist (top 5) for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. He was by no means a flashy recruit and was the third-highest recruit out of 4 in Rutgers' 2018 class.. Now, McConnell has recently been crowned the Big . The McConnell boys split their time between them, attending school in Florida, with summers in Ohio. However, his offensive rebounding rate in Big Ten play is 6.8%. 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. 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). cG9XSlVIbnFWemRFYTd3JmFtcDtndG1fcHJldmlldz1lbnYtMSZhbXA7Z3Rt 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. Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN Cam Spencer (18 points on 6-8 shooting, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) looks fully in the flow of Rutgers schemes. He has also been a rebounds machine of late, with 32 rebounds so far in 2023. 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. He was rewarded with the honor of moving Rutgers name to the next stage of the bracket. Yes, Rutgers basketball fans fully grasped the importance of seeing No. He is averaging 6.5 points per game, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds. When McConnell got to college, his dad finally confessed. Join us to discuss the action as it happens live! It was a four point swing that swung the game in Rutgers favor. It was his way of getting me better. JyZndG1fcHJldmlldz0nKydlbnYtMScrJyZndG1fY29va2llc193aW49eCc7 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. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . 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! Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. 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. Thats another thing he had to be strong for, his mother said. He did that every day. He was one of ten that made the cut as a semifinalist last season. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, News never stops. That was until McConnell made up incredible ground and delivered as memorable a block as I can remember for this program. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. He woke his dad at 6 a.m. every morning for rides to workouts with a personal trainer. Rutgers mens basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. The kid just was relentless, he recalled. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. Senior Caleb McConnell was the first Rutgers player since Hamady N'Diaye to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. March Madness 2022: Rutgers' Caleb McConnell gets homecoming Unbreakable: How Rutgers' Caleb McConnell went from 'soft' and skinny Hes not soft. Odds & lines subject to change. Instead, Geo Baker hit a step back jumper to cut the lead to 64-62 at the two minute mark. Nobody wanted him. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Caleb McConnell making a greater impact than ever for Rutgers 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. 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. McConnell's has a decorated resume through 60 career starts . 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. Leaving his mother, brothers, grandparents and friends was tough, but McConnell was committed to getting better. bmV3cyUyRmNhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m McConnell isn't the only Scarlet Knight with Dayton roots. Its a real morale booster to see Caleb on the floor," sophomore guard Jalen Miller said. McConnell embraced the physicality and the competition, quickly going from the skinny kid everyone wanted guarding them to their first choice when picking teams. Battle made three 3s and Dawson Garcia scored four points during the stretch. He also drew a charge and dished out a point guard-quality assist. THIS. Of course, he hustled. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Caleb McConnell (G) Stats, News, Rumors, Bio, Video - Yahoo Sports "Caleb has been the ultimate ambassador for our program on and off the court. Neither do we. Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers defeats Michigan State, 84-63. I have so much love for them, and I wouldnt be where I am without them. 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.. 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). Please check your email for a confirmation. It will be fascinating to see how his hot hand translates to the upcoming spike in competition. Rutgers' Caleb McConnell's injury status is unclear heading into start Are Democrats excited about another Biden run? Theres not much to be drawn from beating up on an opponent ranked No. Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. Thank you to all the coaches and staff for supporting me and helping me evolve into the player and person that I am today. Afterward, hed put up shots late into the night. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . "It felt good to be back out there with my teammates, my brothers, and hear the crowd cheering.. bS9uZXdzL2NhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m It was so frustrating for me at that time because its, like, Damn, I cant get a break, McConnell said. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve his game. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball: Caleb McConnell debuts in romp of CCSU, Rutgers basketball: Caleb McConnell debuts in romp of CCSU, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie. College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. Hes not going to let anything bother him and hes not going to make any excuses about it. dmVyc2lvbgogICAgcy5zcmMgPSAiaHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL2N4L3Z6 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. JAMISON BATTLE WITH A BUZZER BEATER FOR @GopherMBB (via @CBBonFOX) pic.twitter.com/NPEFUfaxDa. I love the fact that I can play him at almost any position while our younger guys are figuring out one position. Scored in double-figures four times in a five-game span (Clemson, Purdue, Seton Hall, Maine), 16 points versus Clemson was new career-high, Also set career-highs in rebounds (12, Seton Hall), assists (9, UMass) and steals (6, UMass), Had four steals in each of wins over No. "We are excited to welcome Caleb McConnell back for one more season," said head coach Steve Pikiell. "It was a tough six weeks for me. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. Hes playing through a partially torn hip labrum and hes working out six times a day. b3ItMjAyMi0yMy1zZWFzb24iCiAgfSk7CiAgKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgewogICAg By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Rutgers' Steve Pikiell updates Caleb McConnell's injury status for The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this season. They have three more ranked teams and six more Quad 1 opponents in a row left on the schedule. 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. 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. To see him causing havoc in the Big Ten for the last four years, its just awesome. bCk7CiAgfSkoKTsKPC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo8bm9zY3JpcHQ+CiAgPGltZyBzcmM9 Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. He scored just 4 points, but had 4 rebounds, 4 steals and the all-important blocked shot. 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. and Caleb McConnell then made one of two for Rutgers. He is a ferocious defender on and off the ball. 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. Meanwhile, McConnell developed and grew as a player. If you look at our games, hes taking the best player and cutting their points in half. No Rutgers fans, the chase down block by Caleb McConnell was not a dreamGame-saving. "And as a competitor, Ive got to rise to the occasion.. a cross-court sprint into a contested lay-up. 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.. 11.3K followers. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Caleb McConnell is coming back for one more year. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. bS9ucy5odG1sP2lkPUdUTS1NRjZQWFhDJmFtcDtndG1fYXV0aD1LaEg2aGVD Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is a contender for the Big Ten's Defender of the Year award. Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . caleb mcconnell rutgers tattoogeorgia foraging laws. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers falls to Minnesota at the buzzer, Scarlet Knights suffer gut-punch. Then, you factor in his rebounds and his assists, he does a lot of things for us that equate to winning. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. They were wonderful co-parents who remain good friends to this day, but the physical distance between them was tough on their sons. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, across his stomach in bold, black letters. ewogICAgYzE6ICIyIiwKICAgIGMyOiAiNzI0MTQ2OSIsCiAgICBjNTogIjIw caleb mcconnell rutgers tattoo - creditsolutionexperts.com AP Top 25 Poll: Rutgers drops out of national rankings once again NJ . 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. Men's Basketball bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. PSBkb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50c0J5VGFnTmFtZSgic2NyaXB0IilbMF07 Then came the texts and calls from teammates that all carried the same message: We really need you this year. https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/22/rutgers-caleb-mcconnell-is-having-an-impressive-last-dance/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. McConnell was the kind of prospect they wanted a tough kid with lots of upside who loved basketball. "Certainly for the first time these guys being on this stage, they were locked in from the beginning," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. bS9jcy5qcyI7CiAgICBlbC5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShzLCBl Caleb McConnell - Men's Basketball - Rutgers University Athletics Battle was 7 of 15 from the floor and 6-of-13 shooting from long range. North Brunswick, New Jersey. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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. Woolfolk, the backup center, tallied 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added four boards and two steals. Get a yearly subscription for $99.95/year or $9.95/month. "Ive been out these last six weeks and had just three or four practices. 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). AP. d2luZG93Ll9kaWRBc3luY0luamVjdEdvb2dsZVRhZ01hbmFnZXIpIHJldHVy Hes always got something lingering, but just doesnt care. Here is another angle that shows the authority in which McConnell blocked the ball but also that the play was clearly a clean stop. Rutgers targeted by Penn State fans' vulgar, racist language during comeback win Unfortunately, in the article, Nj.com writes about the BYU-Duke volleyball game: "[R]acial slurs and threats were directed at a Black player on Duke's team during a match in Utah on Aug. 26." The BYU investigation revealed these slurs and threats did not occur. Caleb McConnell Biography | ESPN 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. The Rutgers guard is averaging a career-high 2.4 steals a game. 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. I said, What are you talking about? Briski said. Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. 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. 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. Despite the bumps and bruises, McConnell progressed from a freshman reserve who displayed occasional glimpses of his potential to a sophomore starter. Feb 20, 2023. Everyone who follows Rutgers basketball knows that, and you could feel the appreciation in the stands Saturday. 33: 26: 2:03: Foul on Antwone . 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. Count them out at your own risk. PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is closer to receiving national recognition in 2023. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. 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. "And since we have such a different dynamic (in terms of personnel fit), I think this is actually a better team.. 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. Imh0dHBzOi8vc2Iuc2NvcmVjYXJkcmVzZWFyY2guY29tL3A/YzE9MiZjMj03 We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. 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. 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. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm All rights reserved (About Us). Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. 13 Michigan State (four) and No. McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. "I love the fans, such a great atmosphere, a family feel, and I need that," McConnell said. 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. Men's Basketball Loses 75-74 to Minnesota on Thursday Night According to a former coach, he is also toughest damn dude in the Big Ten.. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell grimaces after colliding with a Minnesota player during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Minneapolis. Over the last five years, Caleb McConnell has been a steady presence in the Rutgers lineup. LmpzcmRuLmNvbS9zL2NzLmpzP3A9MjI1NDYnIHR5cGU9J3RleHQvamF2YXNj If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.