Five Rutgers basketball players received Big Ten Conference honors this season, showing solid recognition for yet another winning season for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers finished the season 18-13 (10-10 Big Ten). It is a fourth straight winning season for Rutgers. Should they make the NCAA Tournament, it would be for a third straight season, a potential first for the program.
After being awarded the ESPN College Gameday National Defensive Player of the Year last week and a top-ten semifinalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year, Rutgers senior guard Caleb McConnell received Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. One of Rutgers captains, McConnell shared the defensive honor with Northwestern’s Chase Audige.
He is the fifth player ever to win the award in two-straight seasons.
McConnell finished the regular season wit a Big Ten best 2.6 steals-per-game, anchoring a Rutgers defense that was seventh in the nation.
Also, McConnell is now second in all-time steals for the Scarlet Knights, trailing Eddie Jordan by six steals for first place. He was also selected All-Big Ten Defensive First Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media & Coaches).
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Rutgers’ big man Cliff Omoruyi was another Scarlet Knight to receive multiple Big Ten honors. The junior center was selected First-Team All-Defense, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. Omoruyi totaled 65 blocks throughout the season, causing havoc in the paint. He is third in the Big Ten in blocks, ranking No. 23 in the nation. On top of the All-Big Ten Defensive First Team, Omoruyi received All-Big Ten Second Team (Media) and All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches).
Rutgers senior guards Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy received honors, with both players being selected All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media & Coaches). Spencer was Rutgers’ most consistent scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Mulcahy averaged 8.2 points and 4.9 assists per game for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers forward Mawot Mag went down with a season-ending injury in February but received recognition for his hard work. Mag was awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the season.​
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