Did Rutgers make a mistake with Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey?

[Tango Two]

Did Rutgers make a mistake with Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey?

Going into the 2024-2025 college basketball season, Rutgers were expected to compete for a Big Ten Conference crown. With a preseason Top 25 ranking for just

www.onnj.com

 

[satnom]

Only mistake was not bringing in grown men transfers (22-25yrs) that could score, rebound and be productive while Dylan and Ace did their thing. Grant should have played early in the season as well. That’s how most of the Top 25 did it.

GO RU

 

[RedTeam1994]

Did Rutgers make a mistake with Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey?

Going into the 2024-2025 college basketball season, Rutgers were expected to compete for a Big Ten Conference crown. With a preseason Top 25 ranking for just

www.onnj.com

poorly written.

and the premise is dumb (and its posted here a number of times already) - that taking Ace and Dylan created the problem.

taking Ace and Dylan is a no brainer - what school would say "no" to two lottery picks?!?!?! - of course you take them!!!

the problem, as we all well know, is that Rutgers didnt properly build around them

dumb premise, poorly written

 

[cRURah]

“they likely played their last game for rutgers”. did i miss something?

 

[AdventureHasAName]

The mistakes were (1) not coaching them to their strengths, and (2) not supplying them with teammates that can rebound and defend.

 

[NY AGENTMAN]

poorly written.

and the premise is dumb (and its posted here a number of times already) - that taking Ace and Dylan created the problem.

taking Ace and Dylan is a no brainer - what school would say "no" to two lottery picks?!?!?! - of course you take them!!!

the problem, as we all well know, is that Rutgers didnt properly build around them

dumb premise, poorly written

Agree it’s not Harper and Ace it’s no shot blocker and no consistent 3-4 scorer.

 

[King of S]

Maybe the title should of been - Did Harper and Bailey make a mistake going to Rutgers?

 

[darkcheck]

Malique Ewin would have made a difference. Agree with starting Grant sooner. And Acuff was a good third option, and I know his broken foot will get the blame, but his minutes were jerked around with even when his foot was good enough. Ewin-Grant-Bailey-Acuff-Harper a lot more a lot earlier would have been sweet. Instead Pike seemed torn between defense and offense most of the early months when in reality he didn’t bring in any defenders.

 

[RUFan20231]

No, but the roster around them was trash. Pike is the only coach with those 2 guys who could have found a way to lose more games than he won.

 

[winfield102]

Poor fit for Pike. We just watched a top 5 pick hoist a ton a long range contested 2's all year long. Those were the best shots we could get for Ace?

Clearly Pike struggled this year with this defensively challenged team.

 

[365Poster24Seven]

This is a weekly thread with a different thread title.

 

[rubs]

Why is Pike getting a pass for all his mistakes. He recruited, coached and planned this sh#t show. He should retire and give the Rutgers community hope because with him as the leader Rutgers’ future looks bleak!

 

[LotusAggressor]

Ace and Dylan weren't the whole problem. Running an offense that took advantage of their strengths was the bigger issue.

 

[ru66]

Only mistake was not bringing in grown men transfers (22-25yrs) that could score, rebound and be productive while Dylan and Ace did their thing. Grant should have played early in the season as well. That’s how most of the Top 25 did it.

GO RU

And it was a mistake that Acuff broke his foot, that Ace was hurt the first few games and that Harper, Obole ,and Jermiah all were sick or injured-- blame it on Pike that bastard couldnt stop those injuries-- I bet no other coach could have either.

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

Malique Ewin would have made a difference. Agree with starting Grant sooner. And Acuff was a good third option, and I know his broken foot will get the blame, but his minutes were jerked around with even when his foot was good enough. Ewin-Grant-Bailey-Acuff-Harper a lot more a lot earlier would have been sweet. Instead Pike seemed torn between defense and offense most of the early months when in reality he didn’t bring in any defenders.

Did we have a legit shot landing Malique Ewin?

 

[ru66]

Maybe the title should of been - Did Harper and Bailey make a mistake going to Rutgers?

Why? For them, personnsly, they probably get their same draft spot and make the same $,Rutgers or not. As a matter of fact many would say their exposure was even larger being at RU and in the metri ny arena.

 

[darkcheck]

Did we have a legit shot landing Malique Ewin?

If you listen to the moderators of this site and their pod it was a done deal. He was verbally committed. His handler wanted a little more and balked at any negotiation. We said “we’ll get another center”

 

[RuWishBone]

In terms of revenue creation it was a good year.

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

If you listen to the moderators of this site and their pod it was a done deal. He was verbally committed. His handler wanted a little more and balked at any negotiation. We said “we’ll get another center”

ugh yeh now it's coming back to me

 

[essexknight]

No. RU made mistakes in the portal and with previous recruiting classes.

 

[JavaDunk18]

Mistake was not hanging in to Cliff. Period
More evidence this weekend.
Was perfect fit for offense w Double teams on Superstars.. defense significantly better too..

 

[King of S]

Why? For them, personnsly, they probably get their same draft spot and make the same $,Rutgers or not. As a matter of fact many would say their exposure was even larger being at RU and in the metri ny arena.

Because if they went to Duke or another top team they be in the NCAA’s.

 

[RUDivision]

Did Rutgers make a mistake with Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey?

Going into the 2024-2025 college basketball season, Rutgers were expected to compete for a Big Ten Conference crown. With a preseason Top 25 ranking for just

www.onnj.com

Did Rutgers make a mistake with Steve Pikell?

Way better article and the answer to the question

 

[RAC93]

If you listen to the moderators of this site and their pod it was a done deal. He was verbally committed. His handler wanted a little more and balked at any negotiation. We said “we’ll get another center”

Then we never got another center, then Pike said “No, I’m good, I have Ogbole”……🤦‍♂️

 

[TRU2RU]

Mistake was not hanging in to Cliff. Period
More evidence this weekend.
Was perfect fit for offense w Double teams on Superstars.. defense significantly better too..

Cliff & his handlers were done with RU, they wanted him to leave via the portal the year before. They wanted to test the market & see how much Cliff could make

 

[MCKnight2004]

Then we never got another center, then Pike said “No, I’m good, I have Ogbole”……🤦‍♂️

Maybe McEwan will now come to RU a year late, with FSU changing coaches. That would be very Rutgers like. But he looks like a good player, his stats say so

Cliff was not coming back, understandably so, but Missing out on an older experienced Center was the biggest miss, we all knew it all offseason, and saw it right away. IF game, prob have 3 more wins with one, and standing on the bubble

 

[RUGiddy777]

Cliff & his handlers were done with RU, they wanted him to leave via the portal the year before. They wanted to test the market & see how much Cliff could make

Dude gave us 4 years. And bought his mom a house with his extra year. Good for him. He’s not an NBA prospect and that’s life changing money.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Tough to succeed in the portal asking a potential target to be 3rd fiddle to 2 18 year olds. Add to that Aces Aau and HS youtube videos where he is taking fadeaway shots from half court

 

[ru66]

Because if they went to Duke or another top team they be in the NCAA’s.

And you think that's more important than the money they're going to make in the NBA?? Dylan's money is not affected by not making tournament

 

[RUsojo]

Dumb article title. More appropriate would be did Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey make a mistake with Rutgers?

Reality is if Dylan chose Duke we may be looking at the best Duke team of all time. Ace was down to Auburn. The storylines would be even more insane for those teams and NCAA tournament hype of undefeated Duke and Auburn would be wild.

 

[satnom]

And it was a mistake that Acuff broke his foot, that Ace was hurt the first few games and that Harper, Obole ,and Jermiah all were sick or injured-- blame it on Pike that bastard couldnt stop those injuries-- I bet no other coach could have either.

I think pts are fair but injuries and sickness affect all teams. Bottom line is that none of the Acuff, Hayes, Derdack or Martini transfer group were consistent third scorers when Ace and/or Dylan were off or unavailable. One could argue that Ace’s production or efficiency on offense was feast or famine and players like JWill or JDavis did not fill the offensive void consistently.

Team improved defensively since start of season but not enough grown men on roster to match intensity of opposition consistently.

Is what it is. Let’s beat USC for a second time and extend the season.

GO RU

 

[NickRU714]

And you think that's more important than the money they're going to make in the NBA?? Dylan's money is not affected by not making tournament

Correct.
But I believe the point is if all thing are equal (NIL, draft status, money) then you want to be on a successful team making the NCAA tournament than a team missing the tournament.

That is why Dylan may regret picking “unknown winner” Rutgers - compared to Duke. A more known winner.

For Ace - I’d say Auburn as a winner is just as unknown as Rutgers though coming into the year.
Certainly wouldn’t put Auburn in the Duke/Kentucky tier.
Maybe I’m wrong though.

 

[seansherm]

It was not a mistake for Rutgers. It was always a big risk, and may have been a mistake for Pike. Rutgers got the press and get's talked about. Pike gets questioned.