On The Banks Rutgers Athletics Oral History Project. McConnell, teary-eyed and frustrated when he lost, often talked about quitting, but his dad would not let him. In his final year as a Scarlet Knight, McConnell is having an unforgettable last dance and helping Rutgers earn national headlines. But quickly, it was like old times two longtime buddies talking through telephones on two sides of the glass. His back slowly started to heal, allowing him to participate in practice on the scout team. No Rutgers fans, the chase down block by Caleb McConnell was not a dreamGame-saving. I was like, lets just relax and let it come to me.. McConnell's has a decorated resume through 60 career starts . bS9uZXdzL2NhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m Of course, he hustled. 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. In fact, it was a voice from the crowd that helped him shake off some rust. 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.. c3M9J3ZpZGVvLWFkLXdyYXBwZXInPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0nLy9j He tallied 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds, three assists and a block. 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. "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. As he waited in the prison, Caleb McConnell didnt know what to expect. bD0nK2w6Jyc7ai5hc3luYz10cnVlO2ouc3JjPQogICAgICAgICdodHRwczov Please update it here. cmlwdCc+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3ZpZGVvLWNvbnRhaW5lcicg INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL'S FRIDAY. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Rutgers plays at Indiana on Wednesday night, another bubble team in terms of NCAA Tournament projections. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. The summer after, he had surgery to repair his hip injuries. 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. Im so grateful to have been blessed with this group of teammates. 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. Through six games he's been Rutgers' best all-around player this season. The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. and Caleb McConnell then made one of two for Rutgers. Zi5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShqLGYpOwogICAgICAgIHdpbmRv 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. If you look at our games, hes taking the best player and cutting their points in half. Feb 20, 2023. Caleb McConnell UNBREAKABLE Rutgers MBB LLA . McConnell is a tremendous defensive presence, blending natural athleticism with instincts and intelligence. Jun 01
March Madness 2022: Rutgers' Caleb McConnell gets homecoming The Rutgers guard overcame a childhood that hopscotched from Florida to Ohio and eventually left him living on his own to pursue his dream. He is the only Big Ten player to make the semifinalist cut. Caleb McConnell (@calebmcco) Instagram photos and videos However, his offensive rebounding rate in Big Ten play is 6.8%. 19). 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. Minnesota faces Wisconsin at home on Sunday while Rutgers plays host to Northwestern to wrap up their regular seasons. 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). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Battle was 7 of 15 from the floor and 6-of-13 shooting from long range. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . That has made Rutgers a tough matchup regardless of the opponent. THIS. Another look at that block by @caleb_mcco cc @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/Tnj4oR0Lci. The Scarlet Knights are now 14-9 overall and 8-5 in Big Ten play. That is the minimum expectation from him across March, when Rutgers will play two more regular-season games . 11.3k Followers, 1,244 Following, 71 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Caleb McConnell (@calebmcco) calebmcco. 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. To see him causing havoc in the Big Ten for the last four years, its just awesome. Battle's game-winn It was a four point swing that swung the game in Rutgers favor. Caleb McConnell began playing basketball around eight years old, and his passion for the game has led him to plenty of success. Over the last five years, Caleb McConnell has been a steady presence in the Rutgers lineup. Tomorrow marks the deadline for which McConnell can withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and return to Rutgers for one more season. He always wanted to get better.. dmVyc2lvbgogICAgcy5zcmMgPSAiaHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL2N4L3Z6 https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/22/rutgers-caleb-mcconnell-is-having-an-impressive-last-dance/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 339 in Kenpom, but the Scarlet Knights did make it through an injury-riddled November without taking a Lafayette-type loss. Big Ten and Big East programs that once had shown interest hesitated to take him. #1. 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. Follow. Caleb McConnell is coming back for one more year. Hes not going to let anything bother him and hes not going to make any excuses about it. Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell and guard Caleb McConnell (22) are a "match made in heaven," McConnell's high school coach said.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Written off, lost and bewildered. 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 . 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 . The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Afterward, hed put up shots late into the night. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. 71 posts. 12 Illinois (four). 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. Rutgers men's basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. 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. Hes not soft. What Rutgers' Paul Mulcahy, Aundre Hyatt, Oskar Palmquist said about b3ItMjAyMi0yMy1zZWFzb24mYzU9MjAyMjczMzE0MCZjdj0yLjAmY2o9MSZj He is a ferocious defender on and off the ball. 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). Thank you to the fans, the University and all who played a part in providing me this opportunity to play at Rutgers. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. McConnell embraced the physicality and the competition, quickly going from the skinny kid everyone wanted guarding them to their first choice when picking teams. How do you define wealth and a good life? Legendarypic.twitter.com/T5jWZ81x4c, Matt Sugam (@MattSugam) February 10, 2022. bmV3cyUyRmNhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m 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. Rutgers was carried by a stellar night from senior . --------------------------------------------------------------, Talk about it inside The Round Table Message Board, Talk about it on the Rutgers Hoops Free Message Board, PHNjcmlwdD4KICAoZnVuY3Rpb24odyxkLHMsbCxpKXsKICAgICAgICBpZiAo Find doctors, specialized in Cosmetology and compare prices, costs and reviews. 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). Big Ten; New York City Sports; Rutgers Scarlet Knights; College Sports; Sports Caleb has given up so much because he believes what hell achieve in the end.. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. Rutgers is the last team in the NCAA Tournament? What would they talk about? And yet, just like this team over the past month, McConnell fought back in the play and came through in the end. Rutgers Basketball got some good news today as wing player intends to withdraw his name from the 2022 NBA Draft and will return to college for one last season with the Scarlet Knights. 0:49. 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. Im proud as hell of what hes accomplished, but I cant say Im surprised, Briski said. But not until he played two possessions on it, including a cross-court sprint into a contested lay-up. Through 14 games, the Scarlet Knights senior is averaging a career-high 9.9 points and 3.3 assists per game. 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. As McConnell has stepped up offensively, he has frustrated opponents on the other end of the court. There were many big plays, including Geo Bakers clutch drive with the game on the line to draw the foul and knock down the pair of free throws. VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl 13 Michigan State and No. Right now its there for some stability.. He has 2.3 assists a game. "And since we have such a different dynamic (in terms of personnel fit), I think this is actually a better team.. 33: 26: 2:03: Foul on Antwone . The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The senior guard has dominated low-major foes just like he did at Loyola-Maryland. ICAgfSkod2luZG93LGRvY3VtZW50LCdzY3JpcHQnLCdkYXRhTGF5ZXInLCdH ewogICAgYzE6ICIyIiwKICAgIGMyOiAiNzI0MTQ2OSIsCiAgICBjNTogIjIw caleb mcconnell rutgers tattoo - creditsolutionexperts.com During the 2022-203 campaign, Rutgers has been one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as McConnell has continued to improve . Please check your email for a confirmation. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Kristian Dyer. McConnell logged more than 10 points during each of his last three games started. Head coach Patrick Sellers and Steve Pikiell were assistants together at Central Connecticut State for two years around the millennium. 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. 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. 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. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell reacts during Rutgers' loss to Minnesota on March 2. Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi blocked Brice Sensbaugh's shot with nine seconds left, and the Scarlet Knights led by three with seven seconds to go. Freshmen Derek Simpson and Antwone Woolfolk, who will be needed in Big Ten competition, have gotten valuable time and shown growth this month. Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1) Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8) CROWN POINT SECT "Spoke to Steve Pikiell a little bit ago. Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. Eventually, the outdoor courts in Jacksonville and Dayton became his home. Baker was sensational.
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. Caleb McConnell is a semifinalist for Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. He has been more involved offensively and is taking advantage of his opportunities. Z3RtX2F1dGg9JysnS2hINmhlQ3BvV0pVSG5xVnpkRWE3dycrCiAgICAgICAg Big Ten Basketball: Rutgers defeats Michigan State, 84-63. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. Join us to discuss the action as it happens live! He also drew a charge and dished out a point guard-quality assist. Those cheers turned into a roar moments later, when the substitution was introduced over the public address system. The Scarlet Knights senior being recognized for his elite defensive efforts this . Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Scarlet Knights took a tough loss in Minneapolis on Thursday night. All I wanted to do was play basketball.. He scored just 4 points, but had 4 rebounds, 4 steals and the all-important blocked shot. https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2022/03/02/caleb-mcconnell-is-a-semifinalist-for-naismith-mens-defensive-player-of-the-year/, Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year. Rutgers' Caleb McConnell's injury status is unclear heading into start MARCH. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Laser Tattoo Removal clinics in Taipei City at the best price. Hes been as good a player as there has been in the conference," Pikiell said. Latest on Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN. 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. 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. PSBkb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50c0J5VGFnTmFtZSgic2NyaXB0IilbMF07 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. 22 on the court for the first time this season. Its a real morale booster to see Caleb on the floor," sophomore guard Jalen Miller said. It was his way of getting me better. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. Caleb McConnell Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, across his stomach in bold, black letters. There are no statistics available for this player. And there were nagging injuries a bad back, jammed fingers, sore shoulders, bruised ribs along the way. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. There is still the option to withdraw up until June 13th, as per the NBA rules, but that would not allow them to retain their college eligibility. Verified. 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. Baker scored the final five points for Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights built an 11-point lead and nearly gave it all away. But the other three scholarship Scarlet Knights who are . 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. 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. cyd9KTt2YXIgZj1kLmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKHMpWzBdLAogICAg I was just focused on making it down the floor and making the right plays," he explained. Get a yearly subscription for $99.95/year or $9.95/month. When he missed eight games to start the 2020-21 season the first missed games of his college career it gnawed at McConnell. "Hes got to get his timing back, but he causes major disruptions. McConnell was selfless, a kid who loved basketball and hated to let anyone down. Hes just tough. RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm Caleb McConnell to Return to Rutgers in 2022-23 for Final Year of You saw the energy he brings," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. 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. Was the new setting going to make things weird? That is the furthest thing from his mind. 70413 lego Top 5 Produkte unter der Lupe! He kept going at dudes. cG9XSlVIbnFWemRFYTd3JmFtcDtndG1fcHJldmlldz1lbnYtMSZhbXA7Z3Rt McConnell made the heroic play with four fouls and put himself on the line physically as well to make the game saving block. X2Nvb2tpZXNfd2luPXgnIHN0eWxlPSdkaXNwbGF5Om5vbmU7dmlzaWJpbGl0 Sign up for the Rutgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Caleb McConnell is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the only individual award given to a RU player since joining the conference in 2014. Cam Spencer (18 points on 6-8 shooting, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) looks fully in the flow of Rutgers schemes. Along with all that, McConnell also racked up a couple of different postseason honors. Season-saving. Aaron Breitman. 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. He was previously selected to the watchlist last month. Coaches and scouts said he was too skinny, which meant he would get pushed around by bigger players. He was finally healthy heading into his junior season, but a month and a half before he was scheduled to return to school, a freak accident in a pickup game left him with two slipped disks in his back. Rutgers falls to Minnesota at the buzzer, Scarlet Knights suffer gut-punch. I have seen the students and the fans at Jersey Mikes Arena create what is now the best home court advantage in all of college basketball. Former Rutgers assistant joins Nick Saban's staff at Alabama Nobody wanted him. Around the Big Ten: Where does Mike DeCourcy have the Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament? Thanks for contacting us. 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 . "It felt good to be back out there with my teammates, my brothers, and hear the crowd cheering.. What a spark for @RutgersMBB! Visit ESPN for the play-by-play of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAAM basketball game on 3 March 2023 . 28,939. bCk7CiAgfSkoKTsKPC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo8bm9zY3JpcHQ+CiAgPGltZyBzcmM9 . Mens Basketball Game Thread: Rutgers at Minnesota. Last season, McConnell led the Big Ten in steals with 2.2 per game. . Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. Caleb McConnell making a greater impact than ever for Rutgers Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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 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 Biography | ESPN bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy Rutgers basketball suffers shocking meltdown at Minnesota Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . 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. The Scarlet Knights close out the regular season on the weekend at home against Penn State. I have so much love for them, and I wouldnt be where I am without them. photo: Creative Commons / Gage Skidmore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2./deed.en. Caleb McConnell - Rutgers Basketball - RotoWire 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. Neither do we. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. Yesterday afternoon, senior guard Caleb McConnell of the Rutgers men's basketball team was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. His work ethic was incredible, Bryant McConnell said. JyZndG1fcHJldmlldz0nKydlbnYtMScrJyZndG1fY29va2llc193aW49eCc7 McConnell was the star of the historic win, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and playing his trademark defense. McConnell is coming off his best season yet, as he is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of The year. 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. I said, What are you talking about? Briski 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. 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. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is a contender for the Big Ten's Defender of the Year award. Are Democrats excited about another Biden run? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. College players have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. 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. Here is the legendary play by McConnell that might just go down as the highlight of his Rutgers career at least so far. 16 Ohio State (four), No. 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. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? 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 . 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. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. Leaving his mother, brothers, grandparents and friends was tough, but McConnell was committed to getting better. Woolfolk, the backup center, tallied 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added four boards and two steals. Thank you to my family for making me the man I am today and supporting me through every up and down. Battles game-winning shot capped a 15-4 run in the final 1:15 for Minnesotas only lead of the game. At least one Big East coach, to Briskis amazement, said he was soft. 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. How much had he changed? 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 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.