2022-23 Men's Basketball Season Preview
Oct 10 | Men's Basketball
Men’s Basketball Looking to Go “Back-to-Back-to-Back” for 1st Time in School History
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men’s basketball team has a special goal in mind for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Be the first team in school history to go “Back-to-Back-to-Back”.
Three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament that is. Even though, technically it’s already been done.
“It really should be four times,” graduate guard Caleb McConnell laughed.
The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is referencing the shocking end to the 2019-20 college basketball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The (20-11) Scarlet Knights lost their upcoming bid to the Big Dance along with the rest of the top 68 teams when the NCAA cancelled the tournament before it kicked off.
In true Rutgers basketball fashion, this year’s team will have to do it again to make it official in the record books.
“Making the NCAA Tournament every year has been our goal since the day I got here in 2018,” McConnell, who’s returning for his final year of eligibility said. “To know what it takes to get there, to know what the team has to be like, and to know what practices have to be like, I feel like I can show guys who haven’t been here exactly what that looks like.”
The Scarlet Knights roster will look a bit different to those of year’s past, without the return of a few familiar faces. Five-year guard Geo Baker has graduated, and four-year forward Ron Harper Jr., is one of the newest members of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
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. He announced his decision with an Instagram video on June 1st “calling Rutgers Nation” from his hometown in Florida.
“It means everything to have one more year. This is home. I love this place. I love New Jersey. It’s going to be a different dynamic this year, but I am excited that it’s going to be.”Caleb McConnell
McConnell has had to overcome lingering injuries throughout several offseasons at Rutgers. With a decision made and built on years of trust with head coach Steve Pikiell, McConnell spent most of his offseason in gyms local to his home of Jacksonville, taking care of his body and working on specific skills to continue to improve.
“I think the main thing for me was really staying healthy this offseason,” McConnell said. “Early in my career I had been hurt quite often and I had to play catchup, but this offseason was a little bit different. I was able to go home and work on some specific things and get better.”
One skill fresh on the mind of Scarlet Knights fans is Caleb’s ability to score the rock at a consistent pace. In the last game of the season, McConnell scored a season-high 23 points and was 10-of-12 from the field vs. Notre Dame. The upperclassmen averaged 7.1 points-per-game last season and looks to push the bar on that side of the floor.
“That’s something that I have always been able to do,” McConnell said. “Now it’s just all about putting it together and doing it. Those are things that have always been in my bag, but they are also things I have been working specifically on this summer. I am excited to showcase and show the world the things I am working on.”
HISTORY for Rutgers and Caleb McConnell.@caleb_mcco has been named the 2021-22 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball ?? (@RutgersMBB) March 8, 2022
On the defensive side of the ball, McConnell isn’t satisfied either.
The six-foot-seven wing averaged 2.2 steals-per-game, which led the conference and was also good for 19th in the nation. McConnell became the only Scarlet Knight to ever win an individual award in the Big Ten Conference when he was named the 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
McConnell was also selected as a Top 5 semifinalist in the nation for the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. He thinks there is more in the tank defensively this season.
“For me, on the defensive side of the ball there is no ceiling,” McConnell said. “If I put my mind to something, I feel like I can do it. This year I have nothing to prove. I feel like if I just go out there and play my game, I can achieve those things I want to achieve this year. I feel like once I put my mind to it, I just have to go do it.”
It’s tough to doubt McConnell’s will to win based on his decorated resume through 60 career starts and 114 games played with RU. The legendary chase-down block to deny a breakaway layup against Ohio State on Feb. 9 at Jersey Mike’s Arena is a prime example. That play ignited the team and sparked a 10-0 run to close out one of the best victories of last season.
McConnell is reuniting with two returning starters from last year’s squad. Senior point guard Paul Mulcahy and junior center Clifford Omoruyi will join McConnell as the leaders of the bunch.
“It’s going to be fun playing with them,” McConnell said. “They are my brothers and two guys I have been playing with the last three years. I am excited to play with them even more. I’m expecting big seasons out of both. I know they have been working their tails off. I know what they can do, and they know what I can do.”
Mulcahy has grown into the ultimate floor general in his previous seasons with the Scarlet Knights.
He led the Big Ten in assists last season in conference games by a wide margin and had career-highs in points (9.0), rebounds (4.1), and assists (5.3) throughout the full season.
The fellow six-foot-seven guard nearly doubled his points and assists total from 2020-21. The Bayonne, N.J. native thinks that he will be able to continue to redefine his role as more of a leader on the team with the opportunities that lie ahead in 2022-23.
“This is the most excited I have been going into a season here at Rutgers. I have been here for three years and learned a lot, but I am excited about the group of guys we have. This is the best my body has been since I got to college. I don’t only want to win this season. I want to really win in the NCAA Tournament.”Paul Mulcahy
In 2021-22, the Scarlet Knights played their best when Mulcahy played his best. A memorable loss in overtime against Northwestern happened to be Mulcahy’s coming out game in which he scored 31 points coupled with seven rebounds and assists.
That game was followed by a four-game streak where Mulcahy led RU to becoming the first unranked team in college basketball history to defeat four ranked opponents. Mulcahy had his first career double-double against Michigan State on Feb. 5 and had a career-high 12 assists to go with 15 points in the following game. He became the first RU player with 12 assists in a regulation game since 1997. He scored in double-figures for seven straight games during that period for the first time in his career helping with victories over the Spartans, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. He had never scored in double-figures in four games total in either his freshman or sophomore season.
“During that stretch I was playing really confident and loose and just playing my game,” Mulcahy said. “I think I will be able to show a lot of people and myself the player I can really be for a full season this year.”
Clifford Omoruyi??
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball ?? (@RutgersMBB) October 6, 2022
??Preseason All-B1G Ten Team?? pic.twitter.com/Ftd3aSiBxC
Speaking of improvement, no player on the roster was more improved than Omoruyi, the seven-foot center who entered the NCAA Tournament last season leading the country in dunks. Omoruyi averaged career-highs in points (11.9) and rebounds (8.2) last season.
Omoruyi is finally getting the recognition he deserves as he was selected to the 2022-23 All-Big Ten Preseason Team.
Omoruyi has worked tirelessly this offseason sculpting his body through conditioning and preparing himself to take the next step of becoming an NBA-caliber big man.
Omoruyi’s ascension to one of the best centers in the Big Ten was outstanding as a sophomore. In half the minutes played during his freshman year he averaged 3.8 points-per-game and four rebounds.
The center accumulated five double-doubles last season and thinks he can average a double-double this year. He’s even been working on expanding his game to the perimeter.
“I really worked on my outside game this offseason and being able to expand the floor with my midrange game.”
Will we see Omoruyi shooting threes from behind the arc when game action starts?
“Absolutely,” Omoruyi laughed. “Coach Pikiell he told me to shoot them when I am open this offseason. I am taking my time working on them right now, but I hope to be able to shoot them in the game a lot when it’s the right shot.”
One thing is for sure, if you see “Big Cliff” around the rim with an opening, he’s going to flush it.
Is Cliff Omoruyi (@wizcliff77) @B1GMBBall's best dunker? ??
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 6, 2022
Watch some of the @RutgersMBB star's 2021-22 jams ??. #SlamSaturday pic.twitter.com/mb4xY3cGVs
“If I’m close to the rim you know it’s going to be a dunk. No layups for me.”Clifford Omoruyi
Omoruyi echoed the thoughts of his two fellow teammates when understanding the responsibly to account for the points scored per-game by Baker and Harper Jr. last season.
“On both sides of the ball I know that I have to do a lot since we lost two of our starters from last year,” Omoruyi said. “It’s really up to me and the rest of my teammates to be able to get more buckets than last year and help the team continue to win.”
The Scarlet Knights were one of a few Power 5 Conference teams to not lose one player to the transfer portal. Pikiell and his staff have built a family-like atmosphere through offseason “Team Tuesdays” which this year consisted of a barbecue, a softball game, a beach visit, a golf outing, and a visit to the New York Giants practice facility.
According to Bart Torvik, the Scarlet Knights are returning the second-most minutes in the Big Ten Conference this year (63.5 percent), only second to the Indiana Hoosiers.
The roster welcomes back five other contributors from last year in junior forward Oskar Palmquist, junior forward Aundre Hyatt, junior forward Mawot Mag, junior forward Dean Reiber and sophomore guard Jalen Miller.
“This is the most excited I have been about playing with a group of guys,” Mulcahy said. “We have a lot of talented versatile players. We are unselfish, we are ready to play for each other and it makes my job easy as a point guard. I have a lot of tools to work with.”
Mag battled through injuries last season but is expected to be one of the most athletic players on the Scarlet Knights roster coming off of 11.9 minutes-per-game last season. He had one of the most impactful plays of the year with a back door slam in the final minutes of the victory over No. 1 Purdue on Dec. 9 and posted career-highs of 13 points and 7 rebounds in win over Nebraska on Jan. 29.
Aundre Hyatt joined RU last year after three seasons with LSU and is one of the most productive players returning. Hyatt averaged 4.3 points-per-game and had a high of 13 points in the win over Nebraska on Jan 8.
Pikiell describes Dean Reiber as one of the best perimeter shooters on the team and he will certainly spell Omoruyi. Reiber shot 58.1 percent from three-point range and provided timely baskets off the bench in 2021. Reiber had his breakout game in the win over Michigan State on Feb. 5 with a career-high of 12 points and two three pointers.
Pikiell leaned on Jalen Miller during his freshman year on the defensive end, subbing him in for a spark off the bench due to his tireless effort contesting the opponents’ best players. Miller has been extensively working on his jump shot through the offseason and hopes to contribute on both sides of the ball.
Oskar Palmquist will look to carve out a steady role in Pikiell’s rotation as another perimeter shooter with a lefty stroke and a six-foot-eight frame. Palmquist made five three-pointers in key situations last season and can be a productive knockdown shooter when called upon.
“I’m just really excited because last year we really depended on the starters,” Omoruyi said. “This year we have starters, and the bench is going to be a great help to us. I feel everyone on the bench is bringing a lot of confidence right now. We have a lot of bench guys who can come in and drop some points, help us defensively and do what the starters are doing.”
Junior guard Aiden Terry, senior forward Andrew Fulin and guard sophomore Logan round out the Scarlet Knights returning players on the roster.
Rutgers is excited to welcome an impressive group of four newcomers to the 2022-23 roster.
Pikiell carefully selected the Patriot League’s leading-scorer from last season in guard Cam Spencer from the transfer portal. Loyola Marymount’s Spencer averaged 18.9 points-per-game along with 2.3 steals, which earned him All-Patriot League First Team. The Davidsonville, Md. native will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Scarlet Knights.
Spencer has been shooting the lights out of the ball during offseason practices and his fellow guard and roommate Mulcahy even publicly called him the best shooter he’s ever seen. Mulcahy who is a fierce competitor in his own right really appreciates Spencer’s fire on the court.
“Cam is the ultimate competitor,” Mulcahy said. “As a competitor I have to say no (he’s not more competitive than me), but Cam’s crazy, he can really shoot the ball. He can play off the ball, he can play on the ball, he competes on defense and it’s really refreshing to play the game with someone like him.”
A back court of McConnell, Mulcahy, and Spencer at the guard positions will promise to be a one of the most competitive combinations in the Big Ten.
“Cam Spencer, he’s been awesome,” McConnell said. “That kid doesn’t miss, and he’s lights out. He’s very competitive and I love his competitiveness. I love how he wants to get after it and get better every day. I am really excited to play with him.”
Joining Spencer as newcomers are the three members of the impressive 2022-23 freshman class in local product Derek Simpson, and forwards Antwone Woolfolk and Antonio Chol.
Simpson (6-3, 170-pounds) is from Mount Laurel, N.J. and averaged a team-high 20.6 points-per-game and 4.9 assists-per-game for Lenape High School. Pikiell has called Simpson one of RU’s most athletic guard recruits in his six-year tenure at RU. Simpson will wear number 0 a tribute to his role model Geo Baker, who he shares a striking resemblance to on the court.
Woolfolk (6-9, 250-pounds) is from Cleveland, Ohio and is an exciting basketball prospect that also received offers to play college football at tight end. The multi-sport athlete has the frame to play the big man position at a Big Ten level. His imposing size, footwork, great hands and under-the-radar potential make him a key part of Pikiell’s 2022-23 class.
Chol is a 6-8, 205-pound forward from Buffalo, N.Y. who decided to forgo his final year of eligibility at Minnesota Prep Academy in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota to enroll at Rutgers in mid-August. Despite a short time with the staff on campus, Chol has flashed a sweet stroke from beyond-the-arc and a raw athleticism that has been catching eyes during practice.
No shortcuts just work ????? pic.twitter.com/URj1y5inNv
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball ?? (@RutgersMBB) September 30, 2022
“It’s definitely going to be a different dynamic, but that makes it exciting,” McConnell said. “I have heard so much about the young guys. I’ve had a chance to play with them and see them play. They are going to be exciting, and they love to learn. It’s been a different atmosphere here in practice. They are new and they are all coming in hungry.”
The captains of the roster bring back years of experience playing in NCAA Tournament games and recognize the fact that this historic program has not achieved three-straight berths since the tournament’s inception in 1939.
“Just to say we can become the first team in school history to do it that many times in a row is an amazing feeling,” McConnell said. “But I also want to make sure we get further this team. Last year we didn’t get to where we wanted to be. I want to prove to everyone that we belong, and Rutgers is here to stay.
?? times and designations for the 2022-23 schedule are HERE ??????
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball ?? (@RutgersMBB) September 22, 2022
With less than a month before the 2023 season kicks off for the Scarlet Knights against Columbia on Nov. 7 at Jersey Mike’s Arena Omoruyi and his teammates are echoing the goals of Coach Pikiell.
“It would mean a lot to me,” Omoruyi said. It’s one of the goals we have that we want to accomplish this year for Rutgers Nation. I want to be able to get to the NCAA Tournament, get to the Sweet Sixteen, and hopefully we reach that Final Four to lead us to winning it all. That’s always been Coach Pikiell’s goal.”
