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.

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 Mikes 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.

Rutgers will be a national story, eyeballs fixed on these Scarlet Knights.

Much is expected.

Thats just fine with Steve Pikiell.

He loves it.

From Day 1, the first year I got here, Ive been trying to win a national championship, the ninth-year Rutgers coach said Tuesday as the school held media day.

Expectations? Bring em on.

Weve always had high expectations.

Pikiell has accomplished a series of firsts at Rutgers, most notably the schools first NCAA Tournament berth and win in 30 years back in 2021.

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 Dukes 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 years NBA draft.

Theyre not sleepers, thats for sure, Pikiell said jokingly.

What you saw is theyre elite passers, theyre great kids from great families.

Thankful that theyre here.

...

Theyre really talented players, but they work.

Theyre good workers and theyre good teammates.

Added Duquesne transfer guard Tyson Acuff: Every day they amaze me.

From shotmaking to dunks to communicating to playing defense everything.

Theyre really talented people.

Afterward, the two did their best to include everyone, turning questions about themselves into answers about their teammates.

Its not about what Harper or Bailey can do this coming season, they both said, but how Rutgers can perform as one unit.

All that matters is winning.

At the end of the day, youre not going to remember stats and stuff like that, said the 6-foot-6 Harper, whos older brother Ron Jr.

starred for Pikiell from 2018-22.

Youre going to remember wins and losses, what team did this and what team did that.

Just knowing, you cant win alone, you have to win with a whole group of guys.

Pikiell did his best to surround the duo with complementary pieces.

He brought in experienced transfers like Princeton forward Zach Martini, San Diego sharpshooter PJ Hayes IV and Merrimack guard Jordan Derkack, the reigning NEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

He was able to retain talented guards Jamichael Davis and Jeremiah Williams.

It has led to significant hype this winter in Piscataway.

The entire season has been sold out for quite some time.

Weve got Final Four plans, weve got Big 10 championship goals, Martini said.

Were going to work hard every day to reach those goals.

Harper and Baileys presence has Rutgers and its fans thinking big.

The two have been close for some time, since Bailey took his first visit to Rutgers a few years ago.

They became close friends off the court and now they will get to play together for at least this one year on it.

Harper cant wait.

He saw his older brother win at Rutgers and get the Scarlet Knights close to the Sweet 16 in 2021.

Now its the Franklin Lakes, N.J., natives turn.

Its surreal, Harper said.

The guys who came before us, that team with Ron, Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell, Cliff [Omoruyi], Mawot [Mag], I always had the look in my eye, like I want to be there one day.

I want to be on the court and play.

Now having the opportunity to play and knowing I can make something happen here and something great for Rutgers nation, is special..

This article has been shared from the original article on nypost, here is the link to the original article.