Article about Rutgers basketball and the upcoming season, could be tough to beat

[Eurocat]

Rutgers’ basketball expectations sky high thanks to superstar freshman duo
By Zach Braziller
Published Sep. 25, 2024, 1:14 a.m. ET

The arrival of Dylan Harper and Airious “Ace” Bailey has changed so much for Rutgers. There is the potential of a preseason top-25 ranking, and already there is significant hype rarely attached to the New Jersey state school.

NBA scouts will flock to Jersey Mike’s Arena to see the two five-star prospects and projected one-and-done lottery picks. Along with that comes pressure, the weight of expectations before a game is even played.

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Still, this is new territory for him, coaching two players like Bailey and Harper. They were ranked second and third in the country among high school seniors last year by 247Sports.com and are viewed as future NBA players. In a practice open to the media, the two showcased their world-class ability, sinking long jumpers, getting to the basket at will and finding open teammates.

If not for Duke’s freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, the sweet-shooting, 6-foot-10 Bailey from Chattanooga, Tenn., would be in consideration as the potential top pick in next year’s NBA draft.

“They’re not sleepers, that’s for sure,” Pikiell said jokingly. “What you saw is they’re elite passers, they’re great kids from great families. Thankful that they’re here. … They’re really talented players, but they work. They’re good workers and they’re good teammates.”

Rutgers’ basketball expectations sky high thanks to superstar freshman duo

The arrival of Dylan Harper and Airious “Ace” Bailey has changed so much for Rutgers.

nypost.com

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

They are loaded. Crazy.

 

[techtim72]

Two players one and done. Might be a good thing if it means a team has a shot at a conference championship and a great thing if they have a shot at a national championship. I don't see it happening here although maybe they will catch lightning in a bottle.

 

[Hkjb]

'Could' is the operative word. Don't forget our 'addition by subtraction' when we lost 3 players we thought were essential in Kopp, Nance, and Young, then started winning. Locker room dynamics are a complex and unpredictable thing, as is team D and work ethic - particularly for a coach who has not coached players like this in the past.

Hype is not the same as reality. I would not be surprised at all if their story at the end of the year is "what a disappointment". That said, what concern me from the article is the work-ethic and team values Pikiell talks about in these two.

 

[GatoLouco]

I saw them both playing in the MdDonald's AA game. They are incredibly talented.

But I failed to see how they would make Rutgers a contender. Granted, I have no clue how to try to predict their evolution within months, and guys like that will improve a lot within a very short period of time. And it was a small sample. Bottom line is that they are uber skilled lottery picks for sure.