The additions of Dylan Harper and Aerios “Ace” Bailey have been big changes for Rutgers.
Possibly finishing in the top 25 in the preseason rankings, there are already high expectations that are rare for The State of New Jersey.
NBA scouts will be at Jersey Mike's Arena to check out two five-star prospects and a player projected to be the No. 1 draft pick one year.
With that comes the added pressure and weight of expectation even before the match begins.
Rutgers will be in the national conversation and all eyes will be on the Scarlet Knights.
It is highly anticipated.
That's good enough for Steve Pikiell.
He likes it.
“My first year here, from day one, we've been trying to win a national championship,” the ninth-year Rutgers coach said Tuesday as the school held its media day. “Expectations? Go ahead. We've always had high expectations.”
Pikiell has recorded numerous firsts at Rutgers, most notably leading the school to its first NCAA Tournament appearance and victory in 2021, in 30 years.
Still, coaching two players like Bailey and Harper is new territory for him.
They were ranked second and third in the country among high school seniors last year, according to 247Sports.com, and are viewed as future NBA players.
During a practice session open to the media, the pair displayed their world-class ability, hitting long jump shots, getting to the basket at will and finding unattended teammates.
If it weren't for Duke University rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, the 6-foot-10, sharp-shooting native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Bailey would likely have been a top pick in next year's NBA draft.
“They're not sleeping,” Pikiell joked. “You know they're elite passers. They're great kids from great families. We're thankful they're here. … They're really talented players, but they also put in effort. They work hard and are good teammates.”
Added guard Tyson Acuff, a transfer from Duquesne University: “They amaze me every day, from shooting to dunking to communication to defense, everything. They're just really talented guys.”
Afterwards, the two did their best to get everyone involved, turning questions about themselves into answers about their teammates.
Both said it won't be about what Harper or Bailey can do next season, but how well Rutgers performs as a team.
The only thing that matters is winning.
“At the end of the day, I don't remember stats or anything like that,” said the 6-foot-6 Harper, whose older brother, Ron Jr., played for Pikiell from 2018-2022. “I remember wins and losses, which team did this, which team did that. I just know that you can't win alone, you have to win together.”
Pikiell did his best to surround the pair with complementary pieces.
He added experienced transfers in Princeton forward Zach Martini, University of San Diego shooter P.J. Hayes IV and Merrimack College guard Jordan Derkac, who was the NEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
He was able to retain talented guards JaMichael Davis and Jeremiah Williams.
There's been a lot of buzz this winter in Piscataway.
The entire season has been sold out for quite some time now.
“We have Final Four plans and we have a goal of a Big Ten championship,” Martini said. “We're going to work hard every day to achieve that goal.”
Harper and Bailey have Rutgers and its fans thinking big.
The two have had a long-standing friendship ever since Bailey first visited Rutgers University several years ago.
They have become close friends off the court and will be playing together on it for at least the next year.
Harper can't wait.
He watched his brother win a championship at Rutgers and lead the Scarlet Knights to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2021.
Now it's the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey native's turn.
“It's unreal,” Harper said. “The guys that came before us, Ron, Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell, Cliff [Omoruyi]Mawott [Mag]It was always in my mind that I wanted to go there one day and get on the court and play.
“Now, having the opportunity to play and know I can achieve something here and do something great for the people of Rutgers is special.”
