Rutgers' basketball season is marred by disappointment despite strong freshman talents Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
The 2024-2025 campaign turned sour for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as they ended with a lackluster 15-17 record, failing to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Their journey came to a heartbreaking end in double-overtime during the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 20, 2025, which sealed their fate just ahead of Selection Sunday.
Fans and analysts alike anticipated great things from the Scarlet Knights, particularly due to the emergence of highly touted freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Both were named All-Big Ten selections, showcasing their talent throughout a tumultuous season. Harper, who had standout moments including a career-high of 37 points in a narrow loss to Alabama in late November, exemplified potential but was ultimately unable to lead his team to victory consistently.
Despite their individual accomplishments, analysts from ESPN highlighted significant flaws in the team’s overall composition. Kevin Pelton expressed surprise over the lack of additional contributors to the team's success. On a recent episode of Brian Windhorst’s podcast, he emphasized that “this Rutgers team did not really have any other shot creation except those two guys. They really missed Cliff Omoruyi.” The absence of Omoruyi left a noticeable void in the lineup, affecting the overall performance and strategy of the team.
Jonathan Givony, another ESPN draft analyst who closely monitored the development of Harper and Bailey throughout the season, pinpointed several weaknesses in the Scarlet Knights’ roster. He elaborated, stating, “They had no shooting, they had no bigs, they had nothing, honestly.” Givony further critiqued the recruitment strategy of the program, explaining that Rutgers failed to provide a conducive environment for their elite young talents. “You can't just grab any mid-major or low-major guy just because they're born in the state of New Jersey. And that's where Rutgers really failed those guys,” he summarized.
The frustration wasn’t limited to coaching or strategy, as Harper often found himself double-teamed, with defenders swarming him throughout games. “Any time Dylan Harper was really playing pick-and-roll, he had two guys collapsing on him and a third guy cheating off the corner, ready to dig down,” Givony analyzed. This lack of space severely hampered Harper’s effectiveness, making it difficult to utilize his skills in an optimal way.
Bailey, who also had a productive season averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, faced similar challenges. Givony acknowledged Bailey's fluctuating efficiency but recognized his contributions, remarking, “A lot more up-and-down than Dylan Harper from an efficiency standpoint.” He noted that Bailey made several impressive passes throughout the season, but these often didn’t lead to points due to the inadequate shooting support from his teammates. “It’s so hard to build a roster like that – basketball is a team sport... If three of them can’t play, it just makes it so much harder for the other two,” he concluded, pointing to the team's broader issues.
Despite the disheartening record and missed opportunities, the Scarlet Knights secured some notable victories. This included a well-earned win against Illinois, where both Bailey and Harper were in top form. However, these moments were overshadowed by a series of defeats, including two heartbreaking losses to rival Michigan, and a significant loss to Purdue where they fell by 100-71, which propelled discussions about the program’s future.
Overall, Rutgers managed to finish 2-10 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament, starkly highlighting the gap between their performance and that of the top competitors in college basketball. The Scarlet Knights were often unable to crack high-scoring offenses, as seen when they lost to Maryland by nine points, with their defensive woes laid bare against teams with elite talent.
The scrutiny surrounding this season raises questions about the direction of the program under head coach Steve Pikiell. As he reflects on the challenges faced throughout the year, there is a pressing need for a reevaluation of the recruiting strategies to better support emerging talent like Harper and Bailey. Moving into next season, the hope is that Rutgers can recalibrate, mend the roster gaps, and support their promising freshmen in achieving their NBA dreams.
