Freshman McConnell seldom played as a freshman, averaging 1.0 points per game in 6.4 minutes per game of playing time. He scored a season-high five points and grabbed three rebounds against
Cal State Bakersfield.
Sophomore In his sophomore campaign, McConnell increased his averages to 5.4 points and 21.3 minutes per game. He scored in excess of 10 points on five occasions. In the February 21
ESPN BracketBusters matchup versus
Utah State, McConnell started in place of injured Australian guard
Patty Mills and registered a season-high 22 points. He shot 6-for-6 from the field and 9-for-11 from the foul line as the Gaels earned a 75–64 victory. McConnell helped the Gaels go 28–7 and advance to the quarterfinals of the
National Invitation Tournament.
Junior McConnell averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 assists per game as a junior. He hit a total of 77 threes, tied for fourth most in a single season in Gael history. McConnell's average of 13.7 points per game in conference ranked tenth in the West Coast Conference, and his 5.3 assists per game was third. He dished out a total of 174 assists on the year, the fourth best single season mark for a Gael. McConnell led the team with 50 steals and his 1.5 steals per game was fifth in the WCC in that statistic. McConnell was named Most Valuable Player of the
2010 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament as he matched his season high with 26 points to help Saint Mary's defeat
Gonzaga in the championship game. In the NCAA Tournament, he connected on 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc and scored 23 points in an 80–71 first round victory over the
Richmond Spiders. McConnell had 15 points in the 75–68 Round of 32 win over
Villanova and
banked in the go-ahead three-point shot with 1:55 to play. He was recognized as an All-Ninth District second-team selection by the
National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Senior Prior to his senior year, McConnell was named to the preseason All-West Coast Conference Team. He was on the preseason watchlist for the
Bob Cousy Award honoring the top point guard in college basketball. Jeff Goodman ranked him the #13 shooter in college basketball. McConnell was named to the South Padre Island Invitational All-Tournament Team after leading Saint Mary's to the championship game against
BYU. For the second straight week McConnell was recognized as West Coast Conference Player of the Week after leading the team to wins against
Loyola Marymount and
Pepperdine. McConnell scored a career-high 32 points in a loss to
Portland on January 29. These performances earned him his third West Coast Conference Player of the Week honors. McConnell was on midseason watchlist for
Naismith College Player of the Year. Saint Mary's went 25–9 in McConnell's senior season, captured a share of the West Coast Conference regular season title with an 11–3 record, and reached the
2011 National Invitation Tournament. In the first round of the NIT, Saint Mary's was upset by
Kent State 71–70. At the end of the season, McConnell garnered
West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year honors as well as repeating on the All-West Coast Conference Team. He was among the final ten candidates for the Bob Cousy Award. He was recognized as an All-Ninth District first-team selection by the
National Association of Basketball Coaches. The
U.S. Basketball Writers Association named McConnell to the 10-man All-District IX team covering college basketball players in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona, and Alaska. He was picked to the Fourth Team All-America and
Mid-Major All-America Team by
Fox Sports. McConnell was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the
Associated Press. McConnell finished his career with 1,234 points, 12th most in Saint Mary's history. He is also second in assists and third in three-pointers made. ==Professional career==