Caleb McConnell - Senior?
- Thread starter RU2323
- Start date
He has become the Jacob Young of this team. Nothing about his play….he seems to be the heart beat of the team.
Obviousy Ron and Geo have to carry this team offensively, but we are nothing without Caleb. His toughness can’t really be replaced
Obviousy Ron and Geo have to carry this team offensively, but we are nothing without Caleb. His toughness can’t really be replaced
Absolutely. Need Caleb to return next year.
I don't think JY was ever the heartbeat of this team from the perspective of the actual team.
You cannot say we are nothing without Caleb when Geo and Ron are playing the way we expected them to, but Caleb is our all glue , tough *** defender, rebounder , steals leader, guards the best player on the other team guy that is totally a valuable asset. Glad he is on our team and glad he has overcome his early season shooting yips . He could be BiG 10 Defensive Player of the Year but you know the BIG 10 they will give it to one of the big centers.
CM is a baller. They type of player who used to always kill RU before Coach Pikiell.
He’s a defense first player, but it’s also not true that Caleb can’t “go off” on a given day offensively against BIG caliber teams. He’s an inconsistent scorer, but not a limited one when he’s on.
As a frosh, he dropped 25 on Illinois. He had a 20 point game against Nebraska the following year.
As a frosh, he dropped 25 on Illinois. He had a 20 point game against Nebraska the following year.
Hit a huge three late when MI had cut it to 7 to go back up 10
You need both. Maybe last night we could have won without him, but how many nights are Baker and Harper going to be that good and that efficient?
He most certainly was. Our defense started with him hounding the opponents "1". Most possessions he played very hard.
Baker and Harper scoring 47 points is the reason Rutgers won the game.The rest of players provide complementry roles on defense ,rebounding and making 4-8 points a game.
Last night maybe....How many times have Geo and Ron together been that good? It is fool's gold if you think that is the blueprint to win games.
If Ron and Geo had average nights offensively we probably win a close one. All that we would be talking about was Caleb's clutch rebounds, stopping Eli Brooks and the monster 3 he hit. We would be talking the most about the "warrior."
You can say that he most certainly was. That doesn't make it so.
Love the way Miller fights over/thru screens. He gets up tight to the player he is guarding. Once the game slows down for him on the offense side he can become a nice player. Not a double digit scorer or rebounder, or assist guy, but a glue guy. Does the little things that help win games.
definitely interested to see how he develops.
definitely interested to see how he develops.
Whenever we have a lead and our guards need a rest, it’s Miller time. I love watching him defend the ball handler. He blankets his man better than anyone I can recall, including JY. He sets the tone for our defensive intensity every time he’s on the floor. A true warrior out there.
Speaking of Caleb, he reminds me a little of a young Dennis Rodman with respect to his rebounding (only) prowess and toughness.
Wasn't it about a month ago that a lot of the comments wanted him on the bench; he came in same class as RWJ, But I can't follow anymore who has eligibility after this season & who doesn't. don't expect RHJ to return. But Caleb would be an important retention.
Jacob was the spark that supplied the energy the team needed,
Geo was the heart of the team
while RHJ was the soul.
Myles was the force.
Now Cliff is becoming the force in his own way.
Geo still the heart.
RHJ still the soul team needs
and Caleb is proving to be the spark that lights up the team when it's energy starts to fade bringing it back to life
I hope Caleb comes back for another year. We’d have at least 3 starters returning (4 if you count Mag as an occasional starter). And if Ron comes back too, then I really like our chances to have a good year, especially if we can add a strong player or two from the portal.
I doubt Ron comes back but Caleb seems to love Rutgers. I think he and Paul will be co-captains next year and we’ll have an appealing group of returning players to attract interest from the portal. The kind of players we’ll need are usually in much higher portal supply than what we needed last year (a lot of sharp shooters usually in the portal).
I remember saying hi and wishing well to Caleb and his family during his initial visit on Livingston Campus. They seemed very nice.
Just so we can root harder, I saw a little story about Caleb that is worth sharing. Before he started his first semester, one of his best friends was killed in a car crash.
Caleb McConnell is a very resilient, and tough kid. He also possesses a great spirit about him. He fights back every time life tries to knock him down.
For these reasons, I root very hard for him to have success on and off the court. I wish him the best, and he makes me proud to be a Rutgers Alum.
Let's go,Caleb! Thank you for putting fourth your effort on the court!
Just so we can root harder, I saw a little story about Caleb that is worth sharing. Before he started his first semester, one of his best friends was killed in a car crash.
Caleb McConnell is a very resilient, and tough kid. He also possesses a great spirit about him. He fights back every time life tries to knock him down.
For these reasons, I root very hard for him to have success on and off the court. I wish him the best, and he makes me proud to be a Rutgers Alum.
Let's go,Caleb! Thank you for putting fourth your effort on the court!
I am not able to forecast into the future on roster makeup, but Caleb was going to redshirt last year to salvage a 5th year, so as his role expands on our roster, he has a role, as a starter next year. On a B1G roster and with an opportunity to be expanded into a captain type role.
And this season might be his 1st true season as a relatively healthy athlete. If he continues to play well on the defensive end, he can be the bridge player who helps Jaden Jones, Jalen Miller and Derek Simpson next year, on how to play, how to work, how to scout, how to study film.
I know people who follow my posts closely, know I am and was a big fan of Mike Williams, during his work/play/development at RU....a player with a level of determination to defend and rebound, he set the table, while Corey Sanders shouldered the load and Mike deferred to allow Geo Baker the ability to start as a frosh......it was Mike who could have easily started over Geo, buy bought into the rebuild, with a new coach, newer players and he "handed the keys to the car", to Geo Baker when he and Corey departed.
I see Caleb morphing into the type of "don't back down, get into it with opponents"....different from Mike Williams but someone that you can learn from about sacrifice stats, shot attempts and focus on defense, knowing your assignments, rebounding and playing tough.
My hope is that starts to rub off on Jaden Jones, who may not be wired that way, but would do well to understand that you defend, you play......you rebound, you're going to play.....you aggressively know when your man wants to go, and you beat them to the spot on the floor.
As much nonsense or overhyped items placed upon the kids that transferred out, RU in general, has a very good vibe on making sure the kids are willing to sacrifice to defend first.
I am adding Mag to that list of players who will succeed Caleb on being that type of grinder. Caleb is valuable and that is what wins ball games in the end...
While watching a very solid game with Penn State and Northwestern last night, it sometimes comes down to overall talent and skill/shooting.....and then there are times when you can watch teams, and you just know, they're not going to get that big stop on defense or have that toughness.....(nothing against Northwestern, but outside of Audige, they're missing a Caleb/Mag type of 2nd player).
It is good for Caleb to have figured out what matters to winning, vs shot attempts or scoring....sure he wants to knock down 3s, who doesn't?? But a 5th year for Caleb at RU, looks pretty cool to me....let's see how the season progresses.
And this season might be his 1st true season as a relatively healthy athlete. If he continues to play well on the defensive end, he can be the bridge player who helps Jaden Jones, Jalen Miller and Derek Simpson next year, on how to play, how to work, how to scout, how to study film.
I know people who follow my posts closely, know I am and was a big fan of Mike Williams, during his work/play/development at RU....a player with a level of determination to defend and rebound, he set the table, while Corey Sanders shouldered the load and Mike deferred to allow Geo Baker the ability to start as a frosh......it was Mike who could have easily started over Geo, buy bought into the rebuild, with a new coach, newer players and he "handed the keys to the car", to Geo Baker when he and Corey departed.
I see Caleb morphing into the type of "don't back down, get into it with opponents"....different from Mike Williams but someone that you can learn from about sacrifice stats, shot attempts and focus on defense, knowing your assignments, rebounding and playing tough.
My hope is that starts to rub off on Jaden Jones, who may not be wired that way, but would do well to understand that you defend, you play......you rebound, you're going to play.....you aggressively know when your man wants to go, and you beat them to the spot on the floor.
As much nonsense or overhyped items placed upon the kids that transferred out, RU in general, has a very good vibe on making sure the kids are willing to sacrifice to defend first.
I am adding Mag to that list of players who will succeed Caleb on being that type of grinder. Caleb is valuable and that is what wins ball games in the end...
While watching a very solid game with Penn State and Northwestern last night, it sometimes comes down to overall talent and skill/shooting.....and then there are times when you can watch teams, and you just know, they're not going to get that big stop on defense or have that toughness.....(nothing against Northwestern, but outside of Audige, they're missing a Caleb/Mag type of 2nd player).
It is good for Caleb to have figured out what matters to winning, vs shot attempts or scoring....sure he wants to knock down 3s, who doesn't?? But a 5th year for Caleb at RU, looks pretty cool to me....let's see how the season progresses.
Caleb just wrecks plays defensively. His ball denial is so impressive.
People may forget but Caleb shot the 3 pretty well freshman year but has struggled more and more since. Now that he's healthy and in the groove defensively, his shot is starting to come around.
People may forget but Caleb shot the 3 pretty well freshman year but has struggled more and more since. Now that he's healthy and in the groove defensively, his shot is starting to come around.
I really hope that Caleb returns next season. He is our glue guy who does so much. He would probably play 30 minutes every game and will help us in so many ways. Ron actually could return again next season as well. I doubt Ron would but he certainly would be a well appreciated player again if he ever did decide to play one more season. You are only a college athlete for a short time. I hope he does what is best for himself. I think Mag, Hyatt, Jones and Miller will all be better with more experience. Reiber and Palmquist could be better next year as well and Simpson I believe will be a nice addition. I see that Camden which is # 1 in NJ is also rated # 1 and # 3 in two national rankings. They are led by Wagner who averages over 30 PPG. Well Camden just defeated Lenape 76-64. Wagner scored only 24 points and had 4 assists. Simpson went head to head against Wagner and scored 15 points and had 8 assists. Lenape is ranked the # 6 team in New Jersey. I think Simpson will have a nice career at RU.