Rutgers basketball is facing a disappointing season despite the impressive performances of Dylan Harper and Derek Bailey. The team lacks offensive balance and struggles to utilize its supporting cast, relying heavily on its two stars. Bailey's inconsistent play and shot selection raise concerns about the team's overall potential.
Rutgers is on pace for one of the most disappointing seasons in college basketball history, and coaches who have seen them up close are not surprised. (8-7, 1-3) are far outside the NCAA Tournament picture at the halfway point of the season, holding a lackluster résumé due to significant issues on the court.The Scarlet Knights' two stars, Dylan Harper and Derek Bailey, have been elite, combining to average 40.2 points on 49% shooting, 12.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.
8 blocks per game, but… 'I’m not shocked by them not being great — at all. … You don’t have to guard everyone else. From a technical preparation standpoint, you don’t have to overly defend everyone else. The game plan is: How do you stop those two guys? They average a combined five assists. They pass out of necessity.' Rutgers ranks 89th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom, but 46.4% of its scoring production has come from its two stars. The Scarlet Knights rank 254th nationally in assist rate (49%), reflecting how much of their offense depends on Harper and Bailey scoring in isolation. 'Dylan Harper’s a monster off middle pick-and-roll,’ an opposing coach told CBS Sports. 'But they’re not hard to guard. They don’t run around. It’s not like four or five people touch the ball and feel involved. If you want to be a good offensive team, you have to weaponize the guys around them.' Bailey, has been inconsistent due to head-scratching shot selection: 105 of his 216 field-goal attempts (48.6%) have been long twos, according to a scout. 'I think Harper is about as good as it gets,' another coach who faced Rutgers this season told CBS Sports. 'Both draft potential and college impact. But Bailey is inconsistent. He’s an unwilling passer and a disinterested defender and his shot selection is so bad that if he isn’t making ridiculous shots, they are in trouble. They don’t have enough shooting around those guys. And the guys that can shoot are bad defenders. The guys that do defend can’t shoot.
Rutgers NCAA Tournament Dylan Harper Derek Bailey Offensive Efficiency Shot Selection
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