caleb mcconnell rutgers tattoo

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. McConnell would bring veteran leadership back to the team and he was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season. IHZlcnNpb24gb2YgY3MuanMgc28gd2UgYWx3YXlzIGhhdmUgdGhlIGxhc3Qg He has been more involved offensively and is taking advantage of his opportunities. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. Season-saving. bS9ucy5odG1sP2lkPUdUTS1NRjZQWFhDJmFtcDtndG1fYXV0aD1LaEg2aGVD That is the furthest thing from his mind. 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. Rutgers won a game in astounding fashion in the midst of a brutal stretch of the season that theyre turning into opportunity. 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. What would they talk about? Rutgers was carried by a stellar night from senior . Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, across his stomach in bold, black letters. The summer after, he had surgery to repair his hip injuries. I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. With McConnell's return, Rutgers Basketball now has two open scholarships remaining. All it takes is perseverance, keeping my head down and keep going.. I always think in my head, Im unbreakable. I can overcome all those things. 1,244 following. Caleb McConnell UNBREAKABLE Rutgers MBB LLA . aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv Thank you to all the coaches and staff for supporting me and helping me evolve into the player and person that I am today. 11.3K followers. I got to play for my brothers.. Ive got to yank him out of the gym. Get a yearly subscription for $99.95/year or $9.95/month. The Scarlet Knights will have to work to earn a bid to the tournament. 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. Hell go down as one of the great winners that weve had here, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Neither do we. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell reacts during Rutgers' loss to Minnesota on March 2. 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 caption read: Proverbs 3:5-6. Aaron Breitman. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm 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 update it here. On Thursday, Caleb McConnell was one of 15 players named to the 2023 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. Hes just tough. "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. 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. Having him on the floor automatically improves Rutgers on both ends, especially when it comes to defense. Are Democrats excited about another Biden run? 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. 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. bD0nK2w6Jyc7ai5hc3luYz10cnVlO2ouc3JjPQogICAgICAgICdodHRwczov The brotherhood, the culture and the friendships we built with each other are going to last forever. In 2018, McConnell was a three-star prospect that was the 73rd-ranked shooting guard in the country. 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. Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). I said, What are you talking about? Briski said. With 178 career steals he ties James Bailey.#TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/z7B2L16nqz, Rutgers Mens Basketball (@RutgersMBB) January 12, 2023. McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. He is one of two seniors named as a semifinalist. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and has been even better during the 2022-2023 campaign. bS9uZXdzL2NhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m IS. It was their own fault and the play started with a blown coverage. When the Scarlet Knights opened 7-1, he was dying to join them. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. The Rutgers guard overcame a childhood that hopscotched from Florida to Ohio and eventually left him living on his own to pursue his dream. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Rutgers Scarlet Knights Newsletter. 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. dmFyIHMgPSBkb2N1bWVudC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KCJzY3JpcHQiKSwgZWwg 22 on the court for the first time this season. Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. The sacrifices, the surgery, the waiting were worth it for that moment, McConnell said. 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. During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. c3M9J3ZpZGVvLWFkLXdyYXBwZXInPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0nLy9j 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. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. Its a real morale booster to see Caleb on the floor," sophomore guard Jalen Miller said. 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. 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. McConnell's rebounding average of 5.5 per game is just 0.2 higher than last season. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights ICAgfSkod2luZG93LGRvY3VtZW50LCdzY3JpcHQnLCdkYXRhTGF5ZXInLCdH 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. AP Top 25 Poll: Rutgers drops out of national rankings once again NJ . Even by Rutgers basketball's historically painful standards, Thursday's loss at Minnesota ranks among the most infamous. Now he did this all while shooting 39.7% from the floor. Just played through it until the next dead ball, Briski said. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. We've received your submission. "We've been trying to let these guys know we need more from them with me and Paul out, and theyve been bringing it," McConnell said. Today, the word is tattooed across his stomach in bold, black letters. Photo credit Rutgers Athletics. Isiah Pacheco continues to impress with Kansas City Chiefs, named lead kick returner for preseason. McConnell has posted a 42.0 field percentage after only shooting 39.7 percent from the field last season. He always wanted to get better.. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. PSBkb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50c0J5VGFnTmFtZSgic2NyaXB0IilbMF07 ewogICAgYzE6ICIyIiwKICAgIGMyOiAiNzI0MTQ2OSIsCiAgICBjNTogIjIw 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.. Yes, Rutgers basketball fans fully grasped the importance of seeing No. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. #1. News never stops. Commanded his way off the bench with a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds) in win against Clemson in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament (Mar. N'Diaye did so in the Big East following the 2009-2010 season and McConnell . Despite the bumps and bruises, McConnell progressed from a freshman reserve who displayed occasional glimpses of his potential to a sophomore starter. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm MjQxNDY5JmM3PWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGcnV0Z2Vycy5yaXZhbHMuY29tJTJG ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? Leaving his mother, brothers, grandparents and friends was tough, but McConnell was committed to getting better. His cousin dropped his head back and revealed a tattoo on his neck. On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project. With two steals tonight Caleb McConnell has officially moved into 5th all-time at Rutgers. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, News never stops. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 12 Illinois (four). The 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best players in the conference is back. MjI3MzMxNDAiLAogICAgYzc6ICJodHRwczovL3J1dGdlcnMucml2YWxzLmNv They were wonderful co-parents who remain good friends to this day, but the physical distance between them was tough on their sons. He was one of ten that made the cut as a semifinalist last season. On Wednesday night, Rutgers mens basketball completed an improbable comeback to knock off No. It was his way of getting me better. 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. Bryant returned to his roots in Dayton, Ohio, while Stefanie followed her family to Jacksonville, Fla. INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL'S FRIDAY. Former Rutgers star Jason McCourty joins Good Morning Football following NFL retirement. UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Between them, Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy have played 208 games for Rutgers basketball. 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. Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. 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. Here is the legendary play by McConnell that might just go down as the highlight of his Rutgers career at least so far. I love the fact that I can play him at almost any position while our younger guys are figuring out one position. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Iowa State kicks senior guard off team: 'Said something I Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', Unprecedented turnaround sets this team up to be MLB's greatest show, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy Not too bad. 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. 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. 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. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. All rights reserved (About Us). Contact him atjcarino@gannettnj.com. When McConnell got to college, his dad finally confessed. A three-star recruit, he had nowhere to go. Theres not much to be drawn from beating up on an opponent ranked No. Rutgers basketball has seen a slide in the latest analytics updates from KenPom. 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. Cam Spencer (18 points on 6-8 shooting, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) looks fully in the flow of Rutgers schemes. dmVyc2lvbgogICAgcy5zcmMgPSAiaHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL2N4L3Z6 Laser Tattoo Removal clinics in Taipei City at the best price. They said he was tough to project because he played more than one position. 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 . 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. "I love the fans, such a great atmosphere, a family feel, and I need that," McConnell said. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. 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. 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. 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 . Thanks for contacting us. JAMISON BATTLE WITH A BUZZER BEATER FOR @GopherMBB (via @CBBonFOX) pic.twitter.com/NPEFUfaxDa. 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. It was not a seamless transition. Neither do we. 5 takeaways as the standout guard returned from a knee injury Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1) Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8) CROWN POINT SECT McConnells has a decorated resume through 60 career starts and 114 games played. How do you survive in here? McConnell asked. McConnell was the star of the historic win, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and playing his trademark defense. Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports Men's Basketball Its great to have him it gives me a lift.. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. pic.twitter.com/TI9R6uK2z3. 33: 26: 2:03: Foul on Antwone . A mistake. 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. North Brunswick, New Jersey. What makes McConnell so valuable is how he impacts a game in multiple ways. Rutgers mens basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. Hes playing through a partially torn hip labrum and hes working out six times a day. "It felt good to be back out there with my teammates, my brothers, and hear the crowd cheering.. The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. Find doctors, specialized in Cosmetology and compare prices, costs and reviews. The Jacksonville native has seen his playing time rise and has shown that he can be a veteran leader. He is the only Big Ten player to make the semifinalist cut. So how did McConnell look? Written off, lost and bewildered. Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. McConnell is one of three foundational veterans in the program, along with Omoruyi and senior point guard Paul Mulcahy. As McConnell has stepped up offensively, he has frustrated opponents on the other end of the court. 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!. photo: Creative Commons / Gage Skidmore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2./deed.en. 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. He was a dogged worker, the rare player Briski had to ask to spend less time in the gym. The senior guard has dominated low-major foes just like he did at Loyola-Maryland. Im so grateful to have been blessed with this group of teammates. bmV3cyUyRmNhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m Senior Caleb McConnell was the first Rutgers player since Hamady N'Diaye to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award. Rutgers biggest test of the season is set for Wednesday with a trip to Miami as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. 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. 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. 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. Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers defeats Michigan State, 84-63. As this team proved once again highlighted by the block from the rafters by Caleb McConnell, Rutgers is very much alive as the calendar turns to mid-February. Led by a dynamic backcourt, Miami owns a 10-point win over Providence and suffered an 18-point loss to Maryland. His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. 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. 0:49. 10 Iowa as he recovered from a back injury, Scored 12 points with 3 assists and four rebounds versus Ohio State (Jan. 9), Posted season-highs with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in win over Minnesota (Feb. 4). Feb 20, 2023. Caleb McConnell is coming back for one more year. 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 . 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. 11.3k Followers, 1,244 Following, 71 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Caleb McConnell (@calebmcco) calebmcco. 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. It was just a no-brainer, McConnell said. As expected, rusty. Rutgers is the last team in the NCAA Tournament? Big Ten and Big East programs that once had shown interest hesitated to take him. Clifford Omoruyi scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Rutgers (18-12, 10-9). Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. You saw the energy he brings," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. In Indianapolis, they defeated Clemson for their first March Madness win in 38 years. From the moment McConnell dribbled a ball at a local YMCA, he was hooked. 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 . 28,939. Hes not going to let anything bother him and hes not going to make any excuses about it. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Kaleb Johnson leaving Rutgers football to join the Florida Gators in the SEC, Antwann Hill Jr. discusses Rutgers football offer and where things stand with Ohio State, Rutgers basketball dominates and somehow loses at Minnesota, CBS Sports Jerry Palm has Rutgers basketball in the First Four. But the other three scholarship Scarlet Knights who are . I just love being outside, playing outside, playing at the park all day. Along with all that, McConnell also racked up a couple of different postseason honors. Thank you to the fans, the University and all who played a part in providing me this opportunity to play at Rutgers. LmpzcmRuLmNvbS9zL2NzLmpzP3A9MjI1NDYnIHR5cGU9J3RleHQvamF2YXNj eTpoaWRkZW4nIHdpZHRoPScwJz48L2lmcmFtZT4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KCgo=, PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncmEtY29udGFpbmVyIGRpc3Ryb19hZCc+CjxkaXYgY2xh Tomorrow marks the deadline for which McConnell can withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and return to Rutgers for one more season. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu It was a Lebron James level type of defensive play. 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. 19). McConnell made the heroic play with four fouls and put himself on the line physically as well to make the game saving block. 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. Here is the legendary play by McConnell that might just go down as the highlight of his Rutgers career at least so far. . He is averaging 6.5 points per game, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds. Sign up for the Rutgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. We miss having you out there. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . As Rutgers looks to make a tournament run, McConnell will be critical. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. McConnell isn't the only Scarlet Knight with Dayton roots. 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. Join us to discuss the action as it happens live! Theyve been down and out more times than I can count. 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 . 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. 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. 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). He doesnt want anybody to know something is hurting. 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. He scored 8 of the final 10 points and finished with a game high 25 points. 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. 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. 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. Pikiell told McConnell to take his time, but McConnells mind was made up: He was coming back to help this team. cmlwdCc+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3ZpZGVvLWNvbnRhaW5lcicg I just started laughing and shaking my head when he told me, he said. to be the Big Tens defensive player of the year. JyZndG1fcHJldmlldz0nKydlbnYtMScrJyZndG1fY29va2llc193aW49eCc7 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.