Men's Basketball Big Ten Awards: Harper Jr. (Second Team), Baker (Third Team) Among Five Honorees
Mar 08 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY. N.J. – The 2021-22 Rutgers men's basketball team is well-decorated in Big Ten Conference Awards.
Senior Ron Harper Jr. was honored as All-Big Ten Second Team in both the media and coaches' end of season awards, the league announced on Tuesday. Harper Jr. was also recognized to the AP All-Big Ten Second Team by their media panel on Tuesday.
Harper Jr. is averaging a team-high 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds-per-game. The Franklin Lakes, N.J. native has scored in double-figures 24 times this season, including three games of 30+ points. The Don Bosco Prep product is shooting 44.0 percent from the field.
The honor for Harper Jr. is the highest recognition ever received by a Scarlet Knight in the Big Ten Conference. The last time Rutgers had a member of the All-Conference Second Team or better was in 2005-06 when guard Quincy Douby was a member of the All-Big East First Team.
Senior Geo Baker was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team as selected by the Big Ten coaches.
Baker averaged 12.0 points-per-game, 3.9 assists-per-game and shot 39.1 percent from the field. Baker was honored with Co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his performances in victories over Wisconsin and Ohio State. Baker is the only Scarlet Knight to ever win that award.
Harper Jr. and Baker each earn All-Big Ten honors for the third time in their career. Each previously have one Third Team and one Honorable Mention selection. The last time that RU had a player named All-Conference three times in their career was James Bailey in the Atlantic 10 (1976-77, 77-78 and 78-79). Bailey was named to the First Team all three times.
Baker, junior center Clifford Omoruyi, junior guard Paul Mulcahy and senior guard Caleb McConnell were named as honorable mentions as selected by the media voting panel.
Mulcahy averaged career-highs of 8.9 points-per-game, 4.0 rebounds-per-game, 5.2 assists-per-game and shot 43.8 percent from the field. Mulcahy was first in the conference with 114 steals in Big Ten play and 5.70 assists-per-game. His 12 assists against Michigan State were the most an individual player in the conference had in a game this season.
Omoruyi averaged career-highs of his own with 11.7 points-per-game, 7.9 rebounds-per-game and shot 61.7 percent from the field.
McConnell was honored with the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award, was a member of the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team and led the conference with 67 total steals.
It's the first time in Rutgers school history that all five starters were given Big Ten media recognition.
Omoruyi was selected as RU's 2021-22 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
Senior Ron Harper Jr. was honored as All-Big Ten Second Team in both the media and coaches' end of season awards, the league announced on Tuesday. Harper Jr. was also recognized to the AP All-Big Ten Second Team by their media panel on Tuesday.
Harper Jr. is averaging a team-high 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds-per-game. The Franklin Lakes, N.J. native has scored in double-figures 24 times this season, including three games of 30+ points. The Don Bosco Prep product is shooting 44.0 percent from the field.
The honor for Harper Jr. is the highest recognition ever received by a Scarlet Knight in the Big Ten Conference. The last time Rutgers had a member of the All-Conference Second Team or better was in 2005-06 when guard Quincy Douby was a member of the All-Big East First Team.
Senior Geo Baker was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team as selected by the Big Ten coaches.
Baker averaged 12.0 points-per-game, 3.9 assists-per-game and shot 39.1 percent from the field. Baker was honored with Co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his performances in victories over Wisconsin and Ohio State. Baker is the only Scarlet Knight to ever win that award.
Harper Jr. and Baker each earn All-Big Ten honors for the third time in their career. Each previously have one Third Team and one Honorable Mention selection. The last time that RU had a player named All-Conference three times in their career was James Bailey in the Atlantic 10 (1976-77, 77-78 and 78-79). Bailey was named to the First Team all three times.
Baker, junior center Clifford Omoruyi, junior guard Paul Mulcahy and senior guard Caleb McConnell were named as honorable mentions as selected by the media voting panel.
Mulcahy averaged career-highs of 8.9 points-per-game, 4.0 rebounds-per-game, 5.2 assists-per-game and shot 43.8 percent from the field. Mulcahy was first in the conference with 114 steals in Big Ten play and 5.70 assists-per-game. His 12 assists against Michigan State were the most an individual player in the conference had in a game this season.
Omoruyi averaged career-highs of his own with 11.7 points-per-game, 7.9 rebounds-per-game and shot 61.7 percent from the field.
McConnell was honored with the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award, was a member of the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team and led the conference with 67 total steals.
It's the first time in Rutgers school history that all five starters were given Big Ten media recognition.
Omoruyi was selected as RU's 2021-22 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, May 06
Monday, March 16
Friday, March 13
Thursday, March 12
