How many games has Ace and Dylan been the best player on the court?
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Poor coaching and player evaluation. When you use JWil as a primary distributor enough said. Pike built this team and he is responsible for results.
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Go back to what I was telling everyone preseason. I didn't even think back then Harper's tank would be where it is now.
The observation is not meant to be a knock on the two. They have flashed at times (Bama for Dylan , NW for Ace), and have looked like nba ready at times.
But a number of others, including Princeton game, they were not the best players on the court. With this constructed team, they needed (one of them) to be the best player on the court and appears half or so of the time they were not. I think thaty's been the surprise as much if not more than the losses, that others appeared on court better during half or so of the games.
But a number of others, including Princeton game, they were not the best players on the court. With this constructed team, they needed (one of them) to be the best player on the court and appears half or so of the time they were not. I think thaty's been the surprise as much if not more than the losses, that others appeared on court better during half or so of the games.
From a pure talent standpoint? Most.
The difference is our team got scouted and figured out after Vegas.
The difference is our team got scouted and figured out after Vegas.
In the IOWA game Sandfort and Dix were head and sholders better than Ace/Harper in both Basketball skills, BB IQ and effort/confidence.
I think Harper and ACe are an 'Emperor's new clothes' situation where people are afraid to say what they see. What I see is inconsistency and poor IQ and effort by Ace. Mediocre at best shooter, not a good distributor and poor IQ from Harper.
I think you and a lot of people are confusing team success or individual success in games with talent or potential.
NBA teams don't care about what's happening at Rutgers because their belief is these kids are rare talents that have the POTENTIAL to be superstars if managed and coached properly by the right people. Newsflash, NBA front offices believe they have the right people and Rutgers doesn't, which is probably accurate.
I have left games this year saying "Damn, Ace/Dylan struggled today." I have also left games saying "Damn, Ace/Dylan is the greatest basketball player I've ever seen at RU in my lifetime." These kids are 18 years old, that's not normal.
Quite honestly, I'm not sure how you could watch Ace's performance vs Indiana or Northwestern and think to yourself "this is a mediocre shooter." I haven't seen pure scoring efforts like that since Quincy Douby in 2006 dropping 41 vs Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
Same can be said for Dylan in Vegas. Nate Oats literally said in the post game that they didn't have anyone on the court capable of guarding Dylan Harper. Think about that. Harper has some of the best basketball IQ in college basketball, that's what makes him dangerous.
It's a truly rough statement to make, and I want nothing but success for Rutgers, but this staff is so in over it's head it's sad to watch. What has happened this season to Ace/Dylan is that this team has been scouted and figured out. Our staff has yet to find a way to counter the scout.
So ... looked at every game:
Harper the Best Player in a Game: 7 times, plus 1 maybe ... Wagner, St. Pete's, Kennesaw St., Notre Dame (by a mile), Alabama (by a mile), Penn St (1st game), Illinois ... the maybe is vs Monmouth. Bashir had 38 points to Harper's 20 - but Bashir had zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals, zero blocked shots (he was 10-17 3-pointers). Harper had 20 pts, 5 r, 6a and 2 blocked shots.
Harper's performances have been a bit front-loaded. In the 13 games (half the season so far) after he got sick after the Columbia game, and then hurt his ankle in the 2nd PSU game, he has been the best player in a game just once, vs Illinois. In the 1st 13 games he was the best player on the court 6 times, plus 1 maybe.
RU was 5-2 or 6-2 when he was the best player on the floor (only lost to Alabama).
Bailey the Best Player in a Game: 8 times, plus 1 maybe ... Merrimack, Seton Hall, Columbia, Indiana (by a mile), UCLA, Nebraska, PSU (2nd game), Northwestern (by a mile), .. the maybe: Texas A&M ... Wade was great, with 24 points 5 assists, 0 rebounds on 7-14 FG, but Bailey was also great, with 24 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 10-20 FG - both were 2-8 from 3-point range.
Bailey's best games are concentrated during the Big 10 schedule (5 of his 8+maybe) ... though he has been much more wildly inconsistent than Harper.
RU was 6-2 (or 6-3) when Bailey was the best player on the floor.
Both Bailey and Harper were the Two Best Players (overlap from the 2 categories above): 5 times ... Penn St (1st game), Seton Hall, Columbia, UCLA, Nebraska.
Notice RU is 5-0 when Harper and Bailey are the 2 best players on the court in any given game.
Note: Derkack was actually the best player on the court in the Michigan St game, followed by J. Richardson and Carr of MSU.
RU has had 8 1/2 or 9 games out of 26 when either Harper or Bailey have been OUT of the game entirely, or severely limited by illness or injury: Wagner, St. Peters, Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, 1/2 of the 2nd PSU game, Michigan St, Northwestern, Maryland. Of those, 7 are Big 10 games - 7 of RU's 15 Big 10 games. Just saying ...
Takeaway:
When 1 or both of Bailey and Harper are the best player on the floor, RU is 11-4 (or 12-5).
Thus, 0-9 when neither player is the best player on the floor for RU ...
Which is not surprising, unfortunately, the way the team is constructed: RU needs to have 1 or both of Harper and Bailey be the best player on the floor to win AT ALL. Again, just saying ...
Harper the Best Player in a Game: 7 times, plus 1 maybe ... Wagner, St. Pete's, Kennesaw St., Notre Dame (by a mile), Alabama (by a mile), Penn St (1st game), Illinois ... the maybe is vs Monmouth. Bashir had 38 points to Harper's 20 - but Bashir had zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals, zero blocked shots (he was 10-17 3-pointers). Harper had 20 pts, 5 r, 6a and 2 blocked shots.
Harper's performances have been a bit front-loaded. In the 13 games (half the season so far) after he got sick after the Columbia game, and then hurt his ankle in the 2nd PSU game, he has been the best player in a game just once, vs Illinois. In the 1st 13 games he was the best player on the court 6 times, plus 1 maybe.
RU was 5-2 or 6-2 when he was the best player on the floor (only lost to Alabama).
Bailey the Best Player in a Game: 8 times, plus 1 maybe ... Merrimack, Seton Hall, Columbia, Indiana (by a mile), UCLA, Nebraska, PSU (2nd game), Northwestern (by a mile), .. the maybe: Texas A&M ... Wade was great, with 24 points 5 assists, 0 rebounds on 7-14 FG, but Bailey was also great, with 24 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 10-20 FG - both were 2-8 from 3-point range.
Bailey's best games are concentrated during the Big 10 schedule (5 of his 8+maybe) ... though he has been much more wildly inconsistent than Harper.
RU was 6-2 (or 6-3) when Bailey was the best player on the floor.
Both Bailey and Harper were the Two Best Players (overlap from the 2 categories above): 5 times ... Penn St (1st game), Seton Hall, Columbia, UCLA, Nebraska.
Notice RU is 5-0 when Harper and Bailey are the 2 best players on the court in any given game.
Note: Derkack was actually the best player on the court in the Michigan St game, followed by J. Richardson and Carr of MSU.
RU has had 8 1/2 or 9 games out of 26 when either Harper or Bailey have been OUT of the game entirely, or severely limited by illness or injury: Wagner, St. Peters, Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, 1/2 of the 2nd PSU game, Michigan St, Northwestern, Maryland. Of those, 7 are Big 10 games - 7 of RU's 15 Big 10 games. Just saying ...
Takeaway:
When 1 or both of Bailey and Harper are the best player on the floor, RU is 11-4 (or 12-5).
Thus, 0-9 when neither player is the best player on the floor for RU ...
Which is not surprising, unfortunately, the way the team is constructed: RU needs to have 1 or both of Harper and Bailey be the best player on the floor to win AT ALL. Again, just saying ...
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Appears some are confusing FUTURE potential with current who was the best player on the court during RU games this season. They are two distinct issues.
For ex, the Princeton game, Ace and Dylan had the most FUTURE potential on the court But they were not the best player(s) on the court that day.
In the Alabama game, Dylan was the best player, and arguably as good as anyone in cbb at that level.
It has been much surprise I think to the RU faithful that Ace and Dylan have not been the best player on the court in a number of games. The expectations of the number of wins were related to the belief that they would be the best player night in and out. This is not blaming the two, as arguably the expectations that freshman would be the best every game is unrealistic in the B10. But it does explain the team results when the season appears predicated on the best on court status.
For ex, the Princeton game, Ace and Dylan had the most FUTURE potential on the court But they were not the best player(s) on the court that day.
In the Alabama game, Dylan was the best player, and arguably as good as anyone in cbb at that level.
It has been much surprise I think to the RU faithful that Ace and Dylan have not been the best player on the court in a number of games. The expectations of the number of wins were related to the belief that they would be the best player night in and out. This is not blaming the two, as arguably the expectations that freshman would be the best every game is unrealistic in the B10. But it does explain the team results when the season appears predicated on the best on court status.
Boy do I expect this table to be controversial:
| Game | Best Player | 2nd Best Player | Result? |
| Wagner | R. Greene (Opp) | D. Harper | Win |
| Saint Peter's | M. Randolph (Opp) | L. Sommerville | Win |
| Monmouth | A. Bashir Jr. (Opp) | D. Harper | Win |
| Merrimack | A. Bailey | D. Harper | Win |
| Kennesaw St. | J. Miller (Opp) | D. Harper | Loss |
| Notre Dame | D. Harper | M. Allocco (Opp) | Win |
| Alabama | M. Dioubate (Opp) | D. Harper | Loss |
| Texas A&M | J. Williams | S. Washington (Opp) | Loss |
| Ohio St. | D. Royal (Opp) | D. Harper | Loss |
| Penn St. (#1) | D. Harper | Z. Hicks (Opp) | Win |
| Seton Hall | I. Coleman (Opp) | D. Harper | Win |
| Princeton | J. Davis | X. Lee (Opp) | Loss |
| Columbia | D. Harper | J. Davis | Win |
| Indiana | A. Bailey | A. Leal (Opp) | Loss |
| Wisconsin | S. Crowl (Opp) | D. Grant | Loss |
| Purdue | B. Smith (Opp) | A. Bailey | Loss |
| UCLA | A. Bailey | K. Johnson (Opp) | Win |
| Nebraska | A. Bailey | Z. Martini | Win |
| Penn St. (#2) | A. Bailey | F. Dilione V (Opp) | Loss |
| Michigan St. | J. Derkack | J. Richardson (Opp) | Loss |
| Northwestern | A. Bailey | J. Leach (Opp) | Win |
| Michigan | J. Davis | D. Wolf (Opp) | Loss |
| Illinois | D. Harper | T. Ivisic (Opp) | Win |
| Maryland | D. Queen (Opp) | S. Miguel (Opp) / Z. Martini | Loss |
| Iowa | J. Dix (Opp) | B. Harding (Opp) | Loss |
| Oregon | L. Sommerville | N. Bittle (Opp) | Loss |
Princeton with jamichael Davis as best player??????
Re MSU while Derkack hit some primarily late shots, and did have a good game, he was by no means the best player that day. Best for RU, bit not in the game.
Same with Oregon-so many of their players were better than Somerville, who may have been best RU. These few just stick out on quick glance, but would appear accurate would be half give or take, which would have been a surprise entering the season.
Re MSU while Derkack hit some primarily late shots, and did have a good game, he was by no means the best player that day. Best for RU, bit not in the game.
Same with Oregon-so many of their players were better than Somerville, who may have been best RU. These few just stick out on quick glance, but would appear accurate would be half give or take, which would have been a surprise entering the season.
Disagree pretty hard on Derkack.
27 mins, 26 pts on 7/11 shooting and 8/9 FT, 2 stls, 4 rebs. He did more than any individual Michigan St player by a fairly wide margin. The issue is that the #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 best players in that game were on Michigan St.
Sommerville against Oregon, 14 pts, 1 ast, 0 TO, 1 stl, 3 blks, 3 rebs, 6/8 shooting and 2/2 FT. That one is not as clear cut as Derkack/MSU but I think he has a pretty good case and I definitely don't think there were multiple Oregon players who had better games. But again, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #T6 for the night were all on Oregon.
It's a stats based thing not my personal opinion. There is a reason I didn't defend the JMike one.
If you showed this report to someone before the season and said this will be the results of Dylan and Bailey, they would have said you're nuts. Basically, Harper and Bailey were the 1st and 2nd best players (stats only) for only 1 game, against a bad non-conference opponent.
Then either was the best player for only 8 wins, with only 5 in conference. With that being Harper for only 2 conference games.
Depressing.
But, with all due respect to fluoxetine, and the so-called stats ... just not true.
That said, Bailey and Harper have not been good enough in enough games. Partly due to their various respective inconsistencies, but also partly due to a variety of injuries and illnesses.
FYI: No way Harper was not the best player vs Wagner, St. Peters and Alabama. ... and SHU. And no way Davis was the best player, with Harper 2nd, vs Princeton. Both Princeton players were better performers in that game than any RU player. And no way was Sommerville better than either Bittle or Shelstad vs Oregon.
I stick by my rating of the game by game players.
Any stat program that shows otherwise is fairly useless, in my opinion.
Nice analysis on your part.There always will be some difference in opinion on some games.
Wash-- Harper was the best player on the court (mainly that offense was so great as D was problematic. Great O for UW as second best player and him fouling out was perhaps the difference maker.
Scary to think that 34 points is needed to beat a bottom dweller in OT, but it comports with this season's history that significant efforts have been needed from Ace or Dylan to win by and large.
Scary to think that 34 points is needed to beat a bottom dweller in OT, but it comports with this season's history that significant efforts have been needed from Ace or Dylan to win by and large.
Not sure I agree w Oregon, I remember commenting how it was his best game and we were still outplayed at the center spot. Dioubate over Harper is a good call, dude was everywhere that night.
I like this explanation.. A&M in Vegas clearly decided to take the ball or of Dylan's hands.. that and roughing us up, which was the usual tactic used against Rutgers in previous years, worked for that game. Others copied htis.
Did you notice USC tried this in this game? Quick doubles on Harper beyond the arc. Harper has learned.. 25 points anyway and tons of bench points. Saw some 2-man game between Harper and Bailey.. would have been nice to have seen more of that this season... but we were snakebit on injuries and illnesses.
