For Rutgers’ Caleb McConnell, Big Ten Defender of the Year is the perfect fit
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (BVM) — Rutgers basketball senior Caleb McConnell, a defensive mastermind, is the first player in program history to be awarded with the Big Ten Defender of the Year award
The 6-foot-7 guard has enjoyed a stellar season for the Scarlet Knights, with his defensive efforts separating him from the competition.
He leads the Big Ten in steals with 69 through 31 games, including a career-high six in a game twice. He racked up 21 steals over a five-game span, the second-most in that many games in the conference since 2002–03.
During the same stretch, McConnell was a key factor in helping Rutgers secure four straight wins against ranked opponents. One of the highlights occurred against Ohio State on Feb. 9, when he delivered a signature LeBron James style chase-down block as time was ticking down in the Scarlet Knights’ comeback.
It has been said that “defense wins championships,” and although Rutgers hasn’t won any championships yet in the Big Ten, it would not have been in a position for one without McConnell.
Rutgers, which was the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season, this time as a No. 11 seed. The Scarlet Knights had been considered on the bubble with wins that make them look like they can beat anyone, and losses that make them look like a fluke. They needed a strong conference season to help secure a spot in March Madness, and without McConnell’s defensive leadership, it may not have occurred.
McConnell’s tenacity is special, with all-out effort on the court. Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, he is the first Scarlet Knight to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, an honor head coach Steve Pikiell felt was well-deserved.
“In my 30-plus years of coaching, I have coached a lot of great defenders and I can truly say Caleb McConnell is a one-of-a-kind defensive player who can guard all five spots.” Pikiell told scarletknights.com, “I want to congratulate Caleb on this prestigious award. I truly believe he is not only the best defender in the Big Ten Conference, but the best defender in the country.”
The former three-star prospect has enjoyed a remarkable career at Rutgers after fighting through obstacles. He arrived in Piscataway as an underdog, the third-ranked recruit out of four to join the team in 2018. In addition, he’s dealt with multiple injuries since high school, and was even told he was “too skinny” to join a Big Ten team for his collegiate career.
Despite it all, the Florida native has earned every right to be in the starting lineup for Rutgers. After working his way up to become a starter as a sophomore, McConnell has proven his worth. He has played a key role in what would have most likely been three straight NCAA tournament appearances (Rutgers was in position for a bid when the 2020 NCAA tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The guard has been the heart and soul of the Scarlet Knights defense since arriving, while also contributing for the team on the offensive end of the floor.
While not as nationally known as senior teammates Ron Harper Jr. or Geo Baker, McConnell’s presence as a member of the Rutgers basketball team has been felt immensely. Finally, he has something to show for it – Big Ten Defender of the Year.
