Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr., and Geo Baker were all selected for Big Ten awards
Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr., and Geo Baker were all selected for Big Ten awards for the 2021-22 season. Caleb McConnell made history as the first Scarlet Knight to ever earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. McConnell was also selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Ron Harper Jr. was selected to the second-team All Big Ten, while Geo Baker was selected to the third-team All Big Ten.
Caleb McConnell helped lead the Scarlet Knights defensively throughout the entire season and put up remarkable numbers. McConnell led the Big Ten with a total of 43 steals, 11 blocks, 2.2 steals per game, 86 defensive rebounds, and 4.3 defensive rebounds per game during 20 Big Ten regular season games.
The highlight of Caleb McConnell's season was when he averaged at least 4 steals per game during the Scarlet Knights improbable four-game winning streak over four ranked Big Ten teams, including Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. Caleb McConnell's block against Ohio State in the closing minutes is attributed to spurring Rutgers with a magical comeback that led them to victory over the Buckeyes.
Caleb McConnell is also one of ten finalists for the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, a national award for college basketball's best defensive player. He is the only player from the Big Ten nominated this season.
Ron Harper Jr. who has had a wonderful season for Rutgers was selected to the second-team All Big Ten. Harper Jr. averaged 15.7 points per game, 44% from the field, 39.9% from three-point range, and 6 rebounds per game during the Big Ten season. Harper Jr.'s highlights include a last second heave from near mid-court which upset then ranked #1 Purdue, and his three-point shot from deep that silenced a wild Assembly Hall crowd with 2 seconds left as Rutgers upset Indiana.
Geo Baker was selected to the third-team All Big Ten. Baker averaged 12 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. After the massive block by Caleb McConnell, Geo Baker was the catalyst that led Rutgers to a comeback victory over Ohio State.
All three are deserving of their awards, and will forever be remembered in the hearts of Rutgers fans. They will go down as legends at Rutgers. There are too many special moments to share with these players. This has been a unique season filled with many special moments, and we can only hope we can see many more special moments from them come NCAA Tournament time and before their time is up on The Banks.
For more information on these awards please visit the articles listed below.
No comments:
Post a Comment