PISCATAWAY — Rutgers Basketball’s NIT Open end was a microcosm of its 2022-23 season.
The Scarlet Knights couldn’t finish.
After squandering a five-point lead with 30 seconds left in regulation time, they fell to Hofstra 88-86 in extra time, a brutal end to a sensational game watched by a crowd of 5,000 fans.
Rutgers ends the season with a 19-15 record after suffering a superb snub from the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Hofstra (25-8) gave a great image of himself, shooting 57% from the field and delivering big shot after big shot in the stretch despite losing star keeper Aaron Estrada to a foul.
The drama of the match was matched by the drama of Rutgers’ post-match press conference – a 26-minute therapy session in which head coach Steve Pikiell and senior guards Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy shed tears, defended themselves and the progress of the program, and seemed genuinely sorry that it all ended so abruptly.
“I was worried (after selection on Sunday) and they were ready to play,” Pikiell said. “It was a great college basketball game, I know we didn’t win, I get that, but to these guys, a huge thank you.”
He put his arms around McConnell on his right and Mulcahy on his left.
“I love this team,” said the coach. “I know we haven’t won enough games, I understood everything, but this team has been amazing to coach, and it’s the saddest thing, that I won’t be able to keep coaching them.
FIVE POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Record for McConnell
The same day he was named a Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year finalist, McConnell etched his name into Rutgers’ record books. In his last collegiate game, the postdoc guard surpassed Eddie Jordan’s program record for career steals, 220, which had stood since 1977. McConnell recorded two steals on the night to end up with 221.
To be fair to Jordan, that mark was set in four seasons while McConnell is in his fifth year, despite missing nearly two dozen games through injury over the years. Either way, it’s a major achievement, and no doubt Jordan will send his congratulations to the new flag bearer.
“I’m lucky to be able to do that at a school like this,” McConnell said. “I’m blessed to be able to imprint my name forever on Rutgers. This place is definitely my home.
The record was more than ceremonial too. As usual, McConnell drew Estrada’s toughest defensive task. The explosive senior Hofstra and Woodbury native averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Yet the favorite to win the Haggerty award – which goes to the best player in the metropolitan area – fouled seven minutes from time, after shooting 13 on 6 of 13, with four rebounds, four assists and five turnovers .
It was a fitting curtain call for a program mainstay.
“Caleb came to me young, wasn’t quite sure, leaves here our all-time thieves leader, graduates, is amazing in the community… surgeries, back pain,” Pikiell said . “I couldn’t be more proud of him. Will leave here as one of the great winners and one of the great defenders of all time.
2. Hofstra, bow down
The Colonial Athletic Association regular season champions proved a few things. First, that good mid-majors are just as good, if not better, than their high-major counterparts. Second, that the NIT be filled with quality teams. Third, Pride was underseeded in this slice.
Their offensive acumen was unsurprising if you looked at them at all this season. The courage they displayed, however, was telling. Speedy Claxton’s crew took a few roundhouses to the jaw and backed off each time.
“It was a high level game and if you look at the pitch as a whole there are high level teams,” Claxton said.
3. Derek Simpson is ready for the keys
The fabulous Lenape High School freshman got his third straight start and delivered again. Simpson had 19 points on 8 of 16 shooting and dished out four assists. A potential sign of things to come, Rutgers put the ball in his hands on final overtime possession, trailing by two. Simpson put the ball on the rim but it unwound when time expired.
If there was one bright spot about the end of the season, it was that Rutgers’ offense opened up significantly once Pikiell expanded Simpson’s role. Next season, we should give him the keys.
4. The crowd was great
With 48 hours notice, in bad weather, Rutgers fans came out for their team. The student section was two-thirds full, and everyone was heard from the start. The crowd understood that the team needed a lift and did everything to provide one.
“I’m so proud that the Rutgers Nation came out today to appreciate these guys,” Pikiell said.
It was truly a night for true fans, and those fans delivered. Even in the end, as Rutgers left the field, a thousand remaining faithful cheered them on for a hard-fought season.
“Great environment,” said Claxton of Hofstra. “I’m pretty happy they had a full house. It made it easier for my guys to get up and play.”
5. Settlement of accounts
There are many personnel decisions ahead of us. Will junior center Cliff Omoruyi explore a potential professional career? Will Mulcahy and Aundre Hyatt return for final qualifying seasons? What reserves, if any, will leave? Who can Pikiell bring in, other than well-regarded rookie Gavin Griffiths, who can provide this program with the desperately needed depth (the lack of which was the main reason for the Scarlet Knights’ lag to the finish line)?
It’s too harsh and unfair to call this season a failure. After Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. left last spring, that was probably the right level of achievement for this list. Reloading was ahead of schedule before glue guy Mawot Mag got injured in early February, and things just kind of went from there.
Pikiell’s extraordinary press conference on Tuesday night, in which he ticked off his senior class’ many accomplishments on and off the pitch, was a call to perspective on how far he’s come.
“We raised expectations here, and they did,” he said of his players.
He added: “I know it wasn’t the win total that everyone wanted, but you know I’m proud of this group and it’s tough. It’s a tough day when you end the season with a great group of guys. They left everything on the ground. Give Hofstra credit. They got us by one possession, but it was a great college basketball game in a great environment.
McConnell, who has spoken almost as long as Pikiell, said of his coaches and teammates, “the love we have for each other is unbreakable.”
He seemed reluctant to stop talking for fear it would signal the end of his time in a Rutgers jersey.
“It’s hard, because that’s it for me,” he said.
But McConnell ended on a positive, all-encompassing note, as only a wizened fifth-year veteran could.
“This program is left in good hands,” he said. “I know (Pikiell) is going to have more great kids here. I can’t wait to see what this program will be like.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and college basketball since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 Voters. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.