Rutgers Men’s Basketball Makes NBA Draft History
On Wednesday night, the Rutgers men’s basketball team made headlines when two of its freshmen, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, were picked in the top five of the NBA draft. Harper was chosen second overall by the San Antonio Spurs, with Bailey following just a few picks later, selected by the Utah Jazz.
Fans took to social media to celebrate, but not without expressing some confusion.
How is it possible for Rutgers to have two top-five draft picks and still not make the NCAA tournament?
This remarkable situation leads to some head-scratching among devoted fans who are left to question their own choices.
It certainly was a momentous night in the long journey of Rutgers basketball. Before this, the program had produced only four first-round NBA draft picks, and none had ever been top-five selections. In fact, the last time Rutgers saw a first-round pick was back in 2006, when Quincy Douby was selected 19th overall.
The irony didn’t stop there. For the first time in college basketball history, a team had two players drafted in the top five without a single NCAA tournament appearance.
Not only did the Scarlet Knights miss out on March Madness, but they also finished with a disappointing record of 15-17, winning only eight games in Big Ten play. They suffered non-conference losses against teams like Kennesaw State and lost in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.
It’s understandable why fans might feel conflicted about this.
While many across the nation are scratching their heads asking, “How did this happen?” the more pressing question for these fans is, “What comes next?”
A coach’s ability to bring in top-tier talent doesn’t always guarantee success.
One notable example is from the 2015-16 season when LSU, featuring Ben Simmons, had immense preseason expectations but ended with just 19 wins and missed out on the postseason entirely. Coach Johnny Jones was ultimately let go.
Similarly, Washington’s Lorenzo Romar faced a downturn despite leading a team with future top draft pick Markelle Fultz. The Huskies ended their season at 9-22, and Romar was dismissed afterward.
In 2012-13, UCLA’s Ben Howland began the year with a promising freshman class but ended up losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament and was subsequently fired.
For head coach Steve Pikiell, avoiding being added to this list is crucial. In 2021, he led Rutgers to its first NCAA tournament win since 1983, but after two disappointing seasons, much of that momentum has faded.
With four of last season’s five starters gone, the team faces a tough road ahead. There hasn’t been enough recruitment from the transfer portal or high school level to match the level of talent represented by Harper and Bailey. While some newcomers, like Dylan Grant and Tarik Francis, show promise, it’s difficult to envision the team regaining its footing in the Big Ten.
As summer approaches and predictions for the 2025-26 preseason begin to surface, it seems likely that Rutgers will be projected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten standings. The chances of being considered a tournament team appear even slimmer.
If these predictions hold true, Pikiell might find himself caught in a challenging position down the line, pondering whether that remarkable draft night success was truly worth it.
