With two games left in the regular season, Rutgers very much controls their NCAA Tournament destiny. The Rutgers guard overcame a childhood that hopscotched from Florida to Ohio and eventually left him living on his own to pursue his dream. Rutgers won a game in astounding fashion in the midst of a brutal stretch of the season that theyre turning into opportunity. If you look at our games, hes taking the best player and cutting their points in half. 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. 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 . 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. Was the new setting going to make things weird? I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. 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. 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. 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. Rutgers Wrestling: Coach Scott Goodale gives early lineup preview, Rutgers Football: 5 things to watch during training camp. Its about me finding the right time and my spots in the game, Miller said. 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. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Season-saving. He has 2.3 assists a game. 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. To see him causing havoc in the Big Ten for the last four years, its just awesome. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers defeats Michigan State, 84-63. Freshmen Derek Simpson and Antwone Woolfolk, who will be needed in Big Ten competition, have gotten valuable time and shown growth this month. 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. Those cheers turned into a roar moments later, when the substitution was introduced over the public address system. MjI3MzMxNDAiLAogICAgYzc6ICJodHRwczovL3J1dGdlcnMucml2YWxzLmNv 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. Baker was sensational. 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 The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. 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. Assisted by Caleb McConnell. c3M9J3ZpZGVvLWFkLXdyYXBwZXInPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0nLy9j 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. I appreciate the fans being patient with me and cheering me on and having my back.. Hes always got something lingering, but just doesnt care. The summer before his freshman season, McConnell recovered from surgery on the broken foot. cmlwdCc+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3ZpZGVvLWNvbnRhaW5lcicg Written off, lost and bewildered. "It was a tough six weeks for me. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. A three-star recruit, he had nowhere to go. No Rutgers fans, the chase down block by Caleb McConnell was not a dreamGame-saving. 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. They said he was tough to project because he played more than one position. 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. As Rutgers looks to make a tournament run, McConnell will be critical. On Wednesday night, Rutgers mens basketball completed an improbable comeback to knock off No. bS9jcy5qcyI7CiAgICBlbC5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShzLCBl Join us to discuss the action as it happens live! 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. He is rarely the Scarlet Knights top scorer, but he creates scoring chances for himself and his teammates because of his defensive ability. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. McConnell isn't the only Scarlet Knight with Dayton roots. 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. bD0nK2w6Jyc7ai5hc3luYz10cnVlO2ouc3JjPQogICAgICAgICdodHRwczov Mens Basketball Game Thread: Rutgers at Minnesota. GET TKR PREMIUM FREE FOR 30 DAYS CLICK HERE FOR MORE. Z3RtX2F1dGg9JysnS2hINmhlQ3BvV0pVSG5xVnpkRWE3dycrCiAgICAgICAg In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. Please update it here. It feels like Ive been through one long fight for years., He announced his decision on Twitter in October. Mulcahy remains sidelined indefinitely by left shoulder injury; Pikiell said he's been cleared to practice but not for contact. . They have a 4-3 record against Quad 1 opponents and have won back to back games against ranked foes for the first time since 2008. 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. On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project. 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. Caleb McConnell is a semifinalist for Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. With less than two full weeks left in January, he has 16 steals this month, including a season-high four on January eighth. 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . Gambling problem? Rutgers basketball has seen a slide in the latest analytics updates from KenPom. Caleb McConnell was fouled . Of course, he hustled. The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this . I just started laughing and shaking my head when he told me, he said. All it takes is perseverance, keeping my head down and keep going.. Zi5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShqLGYpOwogICAgICAgIHdpbmRv 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. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. UNBREAKABLE.. March 2, 2022 6:24 am ET. Photo credit Rutgers Athletics. I was like, lets just relax and let it come to me.. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. Instead, Geo Baker hit a step back jumper to cut the lead to 64-62 at the two minute mark. 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. Around the Big Ten: Where does Mike DeCourcy have the Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament? Thank you to all the coaches and staff for supporting me and helping me evolve into the player and person that I am today. 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). McConnell has posted a 42.0 field percentage after only shooting 39.7 percent from the field last season. I got to play for my brothers.. The senior guard has dominated low-major foes just like he did at Loyola-Maryland. Rutgers plays at Indiana on Wednesday night, another bubble team in terms of NCAA Tournament projections. I always think in my head, Im unbreakable. I can overcome all those things. On Thursday, Caleb McConnell was one of 15 players named to the 2023 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. Man, it felt good," McConnell said. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, News never stops. With two steals tonight Caleb McConnell has officially moved into 5th all-time at Rutgers. His senior year in high school, the question about him was, Are you soft? and now, he might be the toughest damn dude in the Big Ten, which might be the toughest conference in the country. Former Rutgers star Jason McCourty joins Good Morning Football following NFL retirement. "I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. 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. He was a dogged worker, the rare player Briski had to ask to spend less time in the gym. "It felt good to be back out there with my teammates, my brothers, and hear the crowd cheering.. 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. aWQ9J2RzX2RlZmF1bHRfYW5jaG9yJz48L2Rpdj4KPC9kaXY+CjwvZGl2PgoK, Certain Data by Sportradar and Stats Perform, PCEtLSBCZWdpbiBjb21TY29yZSBUYWcgLS0+Cgo8c2NyaXB0PgogIHZhciBf The third son of high school sweethearts Bryant McConnell and Stefanie Kerlin, McConnell was 2 years old when his parents split. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. Led by a dynamic backcourt, Miami owns a 10-point win over Providence and suffered an 18-point loss to Maryland. McConnell was the star of the historic win, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and playing his trademark defense. Theyve been down and out more times than I can count. b3ItMjAyMi0yMy1zZWFzb24mYzU9MjAyMjczMzE0MCZjdj0yLjAmY2o9MSZj It was a match made in heaven, Briski said. McConnell was the kind of prospect they wanted a tough kid with lots of upside who loved basketball. Not too bad. aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell reacts during Rutgers' loss to Minnesota on March 2. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Tanner Holden made a 3-pointer as time expired to give No. The kids fearless, man. MUNSTER SECTIONAL. 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. We miss having you out there. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is a contender for the Big Ten's Defender of the Year award. Count them out at your own risk. 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 . --------------------------------------------------------------, Talk about it inside The Round Table Message Board, Talk about it on the Rutgers Hoops Free Message Board, PHNjcmlwdD4KICAoZnVuY3Rpb24odyxkLHMsbCxpKXsKICAgICAgICBpZiAo Just played through it until the next dead ball, Briski said. Aaron Breitman. Today, the word is tattooed across his stomach in bold, black letters. The summer after, he had surgery to repair his hip injuries. 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. 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. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. Woolfolk, the backup center, tallied 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added four boards and two steals. Rutgers falls to Minnesota at the buzzer, Scarlet Knights suffer gut-punch. 0:49. Pikiell actually got Sellers his first college coaching job. 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. 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.. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm Please check your email for a confirmation. We cant do it without you. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Senior Caleb McConnell was the first Rutgers player since Hamady N'Diaye to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu It was his second consecutive game with 4 steals and McConnell is doing everything possible to boost his candidacy for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year or worst case the All-Big Ten Defensive Team. Minnesota won 75-74. Visit ESPN for the play-by-play of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAAM basketball game on 3 March 2023 . pic . College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. But the other three scholarship Scarlet Knights who are walking in the ceremony guard Paul Mulcahy, forwards Oskar Palmquist and Aundre Hyatt all have at least one year of eligibility remaining, and thus have the option to return to Rutgers next winter. When the Scarlet Knights opened 7-1, he was dying to join them. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. 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. 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. He doesnt want anybody to know something is hurting. Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players.